Pruett’s Signal Mountain Market is looking forward to July 1, 2016.
That’s when Signal Mountain’s only dedicated grocery store will get to start selling wine and high-gravity beers, thanks to an overwhelming vote by residents in favor of the sales.
According to election results from earlier this month, 2,961 Signal Mountain residents voted “yes” to the measure and 631 voted against.
“We’re obviously really excited about it,” said Pruett’s manager Justin Davis. “I think it’s a good source of revenue for the store and a lot more convenient for the shopper.”
For grocery stores across the state, revenues are expected to increase once they begin stocking wine, though Davis said it’s too soon to pinpoint exactly how much sales will increase.
“It can’t hurt; it’s going to have to help,” he said.
Liquor stores, however, have lost the monopoly on selling wine and could potentially see a decrease in sales, but Davis said he doesn’t foresee that happening.
“They changed the laws for them too,” he said. “Now they can sell mixers and low-grav beers and sodas to go with their liquor. It makes them a destination for the more upscale things you probably wouldn’t find in a grocery store.”
The mountaintop’s only wine and liquor store, Mountaintop Wines, is located in Walden and couldn’t be reached for comment before press time.