Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 31/01) - Residents of Frame Lake South could have a neighbourhood liquor store as soon as January.

The NWT Liquor Commission last week awarded two 10-year contracts for liquor outlets in the city.

Perry Smith

Yellowknife businessman Perry Smith was awarded the contract for a new outlet in Frame Lake South, said liquor commission manager Ron Courtoreille.

Smith proposes to include the new liquor store in a second phase of development of Stanton Plaza, near Borden Drive and Old Airport Road. The new store is expected to open at the end of April 2002.

"We're looking at him (Smith) possibly opening up a temporary facility early in the new year, in mid-January," Courtoreille said.

Albert Eggenberger, who has operated the city's only liquor store for 27 years, was the only bidder for the downtown outlet, said Courtoreille.

With the addition of a second liquor store, the commission will be relaxing its regulatory grip on liquor sales in the city.

The commission is counting on competition between the two stores to ensure consumers get good value for their booze bucks. The two operators will be permitted to set their own retail prices.