[MrGompers]

Is there a good source that lists businesses for sale ? If you search with google you tend to get aggregation sites that lists businesses, but not real useful info. I'm looking for liquor stores, but would also consider franchises.

[willow wind]

Would this be helpful for package stores.


Connecticut Liquor Stores For Sale - BizBuySell.com


Same website can be used to find franchises for sale, Just change the filters.

I think you're only going to get just so much information on the internet. You woud have to make contact with the realtor handling the sale or with the seller to get really in depth info. You could also check with any of the larger real estate companies that handle commercial real estate. They will also know what is available.

[jane_sm1th73]

Originally Posted by willow wind

Would this be helpful for package stores.


Connecticut Liquor Stores For Sale - BizBuySell.com


Same website can be used to find franchises for sale, Just change the filters.

I think you're only going to get just so much information on the internet. You woud have to make contact with the realtor handling the sale or with the seller to get really in depth info. You could also check with any of the larger real estate companies that handle commercial real estate. They will also know what is available.

The last person you need to find a business is a real estate agent. They are a passthrough cost, at 10% (for commercial), who do not have your interest in mind. Put feet on the street and talk to the current business owners and find out how they did it.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Liquor store eh?

This has been a pet peeve of mine in recent years, and i'm not alone. The typical package store in CT is a little dumpy dingy relic from yesteryear. Many of us have had enough of "guess the price" dusty dark outdated cr*phouses. Take a look at the newer stores like Total in Milford and Norwalk, or Town Line in Stratford. These are the way liquor stores are headed now. Are you ready for that? Unless of course you're just looking to open something in a ghetto, then disregard my post.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Liquor store eh?

This has been a pet peeve of mine in recent years, and i'm not alone. The typical package store in CT is a little dumpy dingy relic from yesteryear. Many of us have had enough of "guess the price" dusty dark outdated cr*phouses. Take a look at the newer stores like Total in Milford and Norwalk, or Town Line in Stratford. These are the way liquor stores are headed now. Are you ready for that? Unless of course you're just looking to open something in a ghetto, then disregard my post.

The best I've seen around is Coastal in Branford, though I've never been to Total.

[jane_sm1th73]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Liquor store eh?

.

I don't know the biz well enough to opine, but could it be that the real value (in a heavily regulated state) lies in the license itself and not in the location, customer list, whatever the usual assets are? Sort of like a NYC taxi medallion or a set on the Options Exchange?

If this is the case, the liquor store biz is too fragmented. The big boyz are looking to corner the market on the licenses. Thereby creating a monopoly that will be much more lucrative in privatized pockets than the old-fashioned government-sanctioned monopoly, whose only beneficiaries were a handful of bureaucrats who looked the other way while they signed the papers.

[willow wind]

I, too, don't know the package stores all that well either. However, in New London, Middlesex and eastern shoreline New Haven county, I'm not seeing any one owner move in and try to take over the licenses.

Those that may have similar names are owned by the same owner, who may have 2 stores. Don't forget CT allows one packie for every 2500 people in a town or city. To stay competitive and in business, each store has to know and work its location and clientele to the best of it ability or it will go under. .

The little hole in the wall serves its hole in the wall customers who may only want a very limited product. Maybe they're just going in for beer.

Come out to Madison, Old Saybrook, etc. and there you'll find the extensive wine products, with ever growing amounts of wines from around the world, rare European liquors and beers, etc. Some use their licenses to sell only wine or just wine and gourmet beer. It's becoming more of a niche business. I really don't see any great monopoly happening. I do see marketing savvy owners coming in ( know what your customer base wants and give it to them)

Also with the ability to be open on Sundays, liquor store owners are not necessarily happy. More overhead for them. They've got to stay open to compete with the supermarkets but that's more hours for them or paying an employee to be there. It does not necessarily equal more profit. Not an easy business.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Liquor store eh?

This has been a pet peeve of mine in recent years, and i'm not alone. The typical package store in CT is a little dumpy dingy relic from yesteryear. Many of us have had enough of "guess the price" dusty dark outdated cr*phouses. Take a look at the newer stores like Total in Milford and Norwalk, or Town Line in Stratford. These are the way liquor stores are headed now. Are you ready for that? Unless of course you're just looking to open something in a ghetto, then disregard my post.

In Milford, you mean the one on Cherry Street? The place is pretty nice, and has the most ridiculous selection I've seen in the area. The variety of beers alone is unreal. However, I think it's changed its name from Total Wines & Spirits to The Wine & Spirit Co. That might be because the national chain Total Wines & More (which just opened in Norwalk) shot that name down. They do have similar store designs as well.

[Comp625]

Originally Posted by willow wind

Would this be helpful for package stores.


Connecticut Liquor Stores For Sale - BizBuySell.com


Same website can be used to find franchises for sale, Just change the filters.

I think you're only going to get just so much information on the internet. You woud have to make contact with the realtor handling the sale or with the seller to get really in depth info. You could also check with any of the larger real estate companies that handle commercial real estate. They will also know what is available.

That BizBuySell.com site is awesome! It's interesting to get a glimpse into small businesses, their fixtures/equipment as financial assets, inventory as assets, and rough annual income that is generated. Also, it gives you an idea of the cost of entry. Paying about $150,000 to have your own package store (without needing to go through the pains of setting up a brand new business) is actually not too bad if you have the dough. Hmm...

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Stylo

In Milford, you mean the one on Cherry Street? The place is pretty nice, and has the most ridiculous selection I've seen in the area. The variety of beers alone is unreal. However, I think it's changed its name from Total Wines & Spirits to The Wine & Spirit Co.

Yep, that's the one. Not the one in front of Aldi, which has a decent selection, but is firmly stuck in the timewarp.