Hood River Liquor packs up and moves — three doors down

“I’m excited to be able to expand the product mix and have the space to add lots of new product items,” said Mark Freeman. “It’s a nice feature to have everything together. We ran out of room at the old store.”

With the move comes expanded hours. Beginning Nov. 1, the store will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. The store is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas — and opens at noon on New Year’s Day.

Another addition: A build your own six-pack station, where customers can mix and match a variety of local and craft beer and cider “to try things out,” he explained. He’ll also stock sodas and snacks.

Besides serving the public, Hood River Liquor supplies about 30 bars and restaurants in town. Having an expanded inventory means that when those businesses have events, they can take advantage of “one stop shopping,” said Freeman. “It will be really convenient for them.”

He’s able to expand inventory because of recent Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) rule changes that allow for more products to be sold.

“The system might not be perfect, but store owners and the OLCC really worked hard to change the image, expand the product base and increase sales to give taxpayers more money back,” he said.

“Every dime the state makes in liquor sales is prorated to each community,” he added, so more revenue at the store means more for communities; Hood River County received $230,048.36 in 2015. (More information can be found on the OLCC webpage, www.oregon.gov/olcc/pages.)

Sales have about tripled in his tenure, which he credits to the store’s easy to find location, Oregon’s lack of a sales tax, and because Washington State changed its liquor distribution and retail system with a state initiative in 2011 that took effect in 2012, raising shelf prices.

“Thirty percent of our business is from Washington,” he estimated.

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Freeman has owned Hood River Liquor for 22 years, and The Dalles Liquor for seven. He’s the fifth to own the Hood River business, which has been a community staple since 1933 — the end of Prohibition. It began its life at the site where G. Willikers Toy Shoppe is located now, eventually moving out of the downtown area because of the city’s concerns about truck traffic on Oak.

The store has had four locations in its 83 years, and has done well in all — except when it moved to the Heights in what now houses XTC. Freeman said the move hurt business because it was difficult to find — they rely on tourist trade — and the store itself was small.

The Cascade Commons site has proved to be a good location for the store, with easy access for customers and designated areas for truck deliveries and those picking up orders for bars and restaurants. Store Manager Ruth Leslie — who has been with the Freemans for 16 years — and Assistant Manager Jori Peek keep operations running smoothly. The store employees eight full and halftime employees.

Freeman currently lives in The Dalles, but he’s called both Hood River and Mosier home.

“Shari and I are excited about the new store and our involvement in both communities,” he said. “We love it here.”