It's Open! Grayson Residents Get First Look at Beverage SuperStore

Beverage SuperStore of Grayson opened its doors just after 8:30 a.m. Wednesday to a group of enthusiastic shoppers. The 15,000 square foot facility, the first package store in Grayson and the largest in Gwinnett, is expected to serve customers in Gwinnett, Walton and Barrow counties. Gwinnett businessman Richard Tucker said his wife, Peggy, is the official owner of this latest venture. 

Following the official ribbon cutting, customers entered the store to make the first purchases. There is little doubt about the anticipation preceding the opening. Even before the doors opened, there were 900 fans already signed up on the Beverage SuperStore of Grayson's Facebook fan page. Although controller Suzanne Adams is the Grayson contact on the project, Tucker said his family's connection to Grayson goes back more than 100 years.

"My mother was born in Grayson, I went to school is Grayson - my grandparents farmed this area. We didn’t come in on the last turnip truck," Tucker said. 

The design of the store is of a General Store from yesteryear constructed of brick and granite. Tucker was awarded the first and only license after voters approved the measure allowing for a package store in the in November 2011. This generated some controversy since there were several other applicants, including Joe Kalish who had paid for and orchestrated the petition drive that got the measure on the ballot.

The City of Loganville is facing much the same situation in two weeks. Should the measure be approved in Loganville, the city is considering at least one, possibly two, package stores - one in Walton County and one in Gwinnett. In the meantime, however, Beverage SuperStore of Grayson can enjoy being the only package store in the local area.