Board withdraws plans for $1.3 million ABC store

MOYOCK, N.C.

The local ABC Board has scrapped plans to spend $1.3 million in liquor profits to buy and renovate a building in Moyock for a new store after objections from the Currituck County Board of Commissioners and news stories reached state officials.

Local ABC Supervisor David Collins confirmed Friday that the local board had decided to withdraw its purchase request from the state ABC commission.

State ABC administrator Mike Herring wrote Collins on Wednesday morning in an e-mail saying he would not recommend approval based on opposition from commissioners and on news reports. The three-person state commission would have to approve the plans.

"In these tough economic times, when monies may be needed for other county services versus a new $1.3 million liquor store, maybe what's missing is a little common sense," Herring wrote.

Two hours after getting Herring's e-mail, Collins wrote Herring to say his board wanted to withdraw the plans.

Commissioners were relieved at the news.

"Mike Herring properly addressed the concerns of the Board of Commissioners," said Barry Nelms, a Currituck County commissioner. "Common sense was not being used."

The two boards clashed in August when the ABC Board announced plans to buy and renovate a vacant car parts store not far from the current store in Moyock, despite objections by commissioners.

The county stood to lose about $400,000 in annual revenue from liquor sales. Officials criticized the ABC Board's decision in an economy when county revenues were down.

The ABC Board can use liquor sale profits for new buildings but typically does it with the blessing of county officials.

Commissioners had agreed earlier in the year to renovate the current store for $300,000.

Currituck liquor sales at three ABC stores in Moyock, Grandy and Corolla totaled $3.8 million in 2008. Minus expenses and taxes, profits totaled $604,413, up from $425,462 in 2007 and $393,681 in 2006.

Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com