BOARDMAN Local business now sells liquor

Voter approval occurred in May 2002.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- In less than 24 hours, residents here will see the opening of the township's first and only state liquor store.
Creekside Beverage, 1401 Boardman-Canfield Road, has been appointed a state liquor agency by the Department of Liquor Control effective Thursday. The store has been selling beer, wine and other low-proof alcohol since it opened in January 2002. The new appointment means the store can offer a host of liquor products 80-proof and higher.
Boardman is typically considered a dry community, but individual site-specific permits may be issued if approved by residents in that precinct. There are more than 50 liquor permits in the township's 52 precincts.
"Boardman is the largest township in the state so it only made sense to put a state liquor agency here," said Dan Gallagher, Creekside owner.
"We are excited to finally be able to provide customers in the Boardman and Canfield area with a full-service liquor agency. We have worked hard to complete the process for appointment."
Voter approval
Voters approved Creekside's request to become a state agency in May 2002. Gallagher said the past year has been spent meeting state requirements.
The Creekside building was bought with the intention of eventually becoming a state liquor agency, Gallagher said, therefore there is no need to create space for the additional alcohol to be sold out of the building.
He said the first delivery of liquor is due Thursday morning and sales can begin as soon as the bottles hit the shelves.
As far as other state stores coming to the township, Gallagher said it is not likely because state officials do not like to place the stores in close proximity to one another.
He said any additional state stores would likely have to be on the other side of the township.
jgoodwin@vindy.com