Menu
Spur of the moment sale closes Scotty's Wine and Spirits
For the first time in 15 years, people who travel down National Avenue will not be greeted by the funny and often witty phrases that graced the sign in front of Scotty's Wine and Spirits on a regular basis.
That is because Jim and Martha Scott, its owners, announced that the store, located at 1624 S. National Ave., has officially closed its doors as of July 28.
A little less than a month ago, the Scotts' had no plan to close the business. Then a rare opportunity to sell the building presented itself, Jim said.
"Three weeks ago, we had no intent to close," he said. "But this came up, and we decided to go for it."
The Scotts' recently accepted an offer from Brent Cosens, the owner of the Southeast Kansas Urgent Care Center, to purchase the building, Jim said. That business will begin its operations in the new location soon. As part of the contract for the sale, the new owners wanted possession of the building by Aug. 1, so the Scotts' spent their last day of business, July 28, moving their products and equipment out of the building in preparation for its new owners, Jim said.
After the store closed, most of the business' remaining products were bought back by the liquor and beer companies that supplied Scotty's with those products, he said.
Until the actual time of the sale, the Scotts' said they didn't know who was buying the building, because the sale was conducted through their attorney. They originally thought the new owner was opening a pizza restaurant, until they found out who the true buyer was about a week ago, the Scotts' said.
The Scotts' said they don't plan to relocate the business, despite a rumor to that effect that has been circulating through the community recently.
"We're done for the present," Jim said. "Maybe a future opportunity will come up."
Other rumors within the community about the Scotts'' decision included one that suggested that the Scotts' were moving their business to Nevada, Mo., because they were upset about paying higher taxes in Kansas, which Jim said was completely false.
The final deciding factor for the move, Jim said, was the fact that the business lost about $70,000 last year because the liquor store was not allowed to remain open on certain days. In late 2005, the Fort Scott City Commission and local voters defeated a measure that would have allowed area liquor retailers to be open on Sundays and some holidays.
Jim said he was not pleased with the way city commissioners handled that issue nearly two years ago.
"I feel like they turned an economical issue into a moral issue," he said. "I think there are some personal prejudices by the commissioners in their decision making."
Despite the fact that the measure was turned down, and now the Scotts' are closing their business after several years, the Scotts' said they plan on staying in Fort Scott and remaining active in the community.
"We love Fort Scott," Martha said. "We're not going anywhere."
The Scotts' said they have received several cards and letters from friends and former customers wishing them well in the future. Much of the community has reacted to the store's closing with shock and surprise, Jim said. Some customers entered the store last week inquiring about what was happening, and where unusual liquor products could be purchased after the liquor store closed, he said.
The Scotts' still plan to continue serving on several local committees, traveling the country, and taking part in their favorite hobby -- learning about a wide variety of beers and wines. Martha is the chairwoman of the annual Taste of Fort Scott fund raising event that takes place in September, and she and her husband also take part in the annual Mercy Capture the Spirit Gala.
Martha said she plans to continue serving food at various social and community events, but beverages, which her husband once provided at such events, will now have to be provided by another person or organization.
Jim said he is a 15-year member and former president of the Kansas Association of Beer Retailers (KABR), but he had to resign from that organization after closing his business. He and his wife plan to continue to provide training across the state for people who feel they or someone they know has overindulged in alcohol use.
"That's what we teach," Jim said.
While they were in business, the Scotts' provided many alcoholic beverages in their store that were available only in Fort Scott, and not carried by any other liquor retailer in the state, the Scotts' said. This allowed more people to stay in Fort Scott and purchase alcoholic products locally, which is important for the local economy, they said.
"I wanted a business where people don't have to go to the city to buy it," Jim said.
The Scotts' said they are still tired from their recent move, but the reality that their longtime local business is no longer there will eventually begin to set in soon.
"We're going to miss it, especially the people who became not just good customers, but good friends," Martha said.
The Scotts' will sell all of the beer signs and other liquor memorabilia -- which once decorated their store and were most recently in storage -- during an auction scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Sept. 22, Martha said.