By default, the Great Falls Citizens Association is not opposing the proposed Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) store that state officials would like to place in Great Falls. At the GFCA board meeting on July 6, board members conceded it was too late to call a general meeting and discuss the issue in depth. Such a move would be necessary before submitting written comments on behalf of the citizens, which comments were due by July 10.
Board members’ feelings about having a liquor store in the heart of Great Falls are as mixed as the general citizenry’s are likely to be. GFCA member Estelle Holley said she was “disturbed by the ABC board’s attitude.” ABC is willing to consider comments but was unwilling to commit to a town meeting on the proposed store where people could express their sentiments directly to state officials.
Eleanor Weck, however, said, “Everyone I’ve talked to says fine, let them come in.”
Paul Ward said he has been barraged by e-mails since the GFCA sent out a newsletter announcing the state's decision to consider putting an ABC store in town. Similarly, GFCA president David Olin said that e-mails have been going back and forth between members since the rumors of a liquor store were made a reality. On June 16 there was a notice printed in a local newspaper announcing the intent to place an ABC store in Great Falls. Such notices are required by law.
Holley argued that the notice, which resembles an advertisement, was easily overlooked by the public and contributes to the negative attitude she interprets the state as having, regarding putting the store in the Great Falls Center and communicating with the residents about the store's impact.
Some citizens have complained that having a liquor store in Great Falls will negatively affect residents. Beer and wine are sold at several local outlets, but hard liquor, such as that sold at an ABC outlet, is available only by traveling outside of Great Falls.
“I would hope they don’t sell those little one-shots,” said Eleanor Anderson, a past GFCA president, referring to the sale of mini-liquor bottles. “People want to drink immediately so they could go behind the Safeway,” to imbibe and loiter.
ABC stores are not allowed to be located in close proximity to schools. The Great Falls Center location is quite near the Village Green Day School, and some residents sought to use that to stop the liquor store. “It is close to the Village Green Day School, but it’s not close enough,” said Anderson. The private school is just a block or two out of range for it to have been used to bar the store from coming.
ABC officials expect to make a decision over the summer about whether to put the store in the Great Falls Center. The size and location of the store have already been determined, and tentative market studies indicate there is a desire within the community to have a readily accessible liquor store in Great Falls.
Should the ABC board decide to go forward with the store, the old Treasure House gift store location could be transformed into an ABC store by early next year, according to Whitney Miller with ABC.