MASON CITY – Just in time for RAGBRAI, a new liquor store on Monroe Avenue has done just enough work to open for business.
The place doesn’t have a name; it simply has beer signs and a “now open” banner in the window. The establishment is owned by the same folks who own the ever-prosperous North Side Liquor on North Federal Avenue.
A quick walk through the store, located at 18 North Monroe, show shelves that are mostly-bare, but according to a man working behind the counter, that will change in a hurry.
“We have lots more stuff coming Tuesday,” the man said.
One might get the impression that the business was set up as quickly as possible to get the doors open, and who can blame them, with thousands of booze-starved bike riders and partiers set to invade town.
A drive-thru window that was installed is not yet operational. There was a few bottles of booze on shelves here and there, beer in some of the coolers. One man was inside buying a gallon of milk. The scene was eerily similar to the days, what seems like decades ago, when the place was known as “Sid’s” gas and grocery, a popular convenience store. There was some candy and other items on shelves as well. Two signs leaned against the counter top, which will also be installed outside. No store hours were posted.
[poll random]