By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
Liquor sales are soaring as the economy is souring.
Perhaps trying to find a bit of comfort in the endless stream of bad financial news, customers lined up at Rowan-Kannapolis Alcoholic Beverage Control system stores in October.
Customers spent $158,000 more in October than they did during the same month in 2007.
Julie Eller, controller for the system, reported to the board this week October sales of $810,000 compared to $651,000 in October 2007 at the eight stores.
That represents 67,198 bottles going off the shelves and out the door ó an increase in sales of 10,000 bottles.
Marny Hendrick, ABC board chairman, cited a trend of people buying smaller and less expensive bottles.
“They can’t be much cheaper,” Eller noted, citing the increase in revenue.
It was the third month sales increased over last year. In September, sales were up $59,000, an increase of 9.8 percent, well above the statewide average of 1.97 percent.
In August, sales were up $108,000 over the same period last year. During that month, sales statewide gained 16 percent.
The Gateway Center, one of four stores in Kannapolis, was the only store to show a decrease in sales.
Board members expressed concern that the store isn’t doing better.
General Manager Terry Osborne has been working with developer Mark Pierce Poole to get additional directional signage at the Gateway Center at the intersection of Kannapolis Parkway and N.C. 73.
The board previously discussed installing a sign with larger lettering at a cost of more than $5,000.
Board member Gus Andrews suggested if sales don’t increase, the board should consider closing the store, which opened in January 2007.
The ABC system is in a five-year lease on the store.
In other matters, the board:
– Approved giving $10,000 in profits to the county for disbursement.
The board agreed earlier this year to transfer a minimum of $10,000 quarterly to the county for a total of $40,000 for the current fiscal year.
The board approved a transfer of $25,000 to the county in the previous fiscal year that ended June 30.
– Heard that a 3.5 percent pay increase for all employees took effect Oct. 1. The board unanimously approved the pay increase in September.
The board also voted to increase Osborne’s salary to $75,000 yearly effective Oct. 1.
Osborne, who has been out for several weeks recuperating from double knee replacement surgery, plans to return to work next week.