Liquor Barn — which offers a wide selection of spirits, wine, beer and cigars — has acquired longtime local retailer J’s Liquors.
The acquisition includes J’s Liquors Tasting Bar and Cheese Shop at 2216 New Hartford Rand as well as the second location at 2509 West Parrish Ave.
J’s Liquors has served Owensboro for more than 65 years. Jonathan Blue, Chairman of Liquor Barn’s parent company Blue Equity, said they were happy when an intermediary reached out regarding an acquisition.
“We knew about J’s Liquor and their prominence in the community and their longstanding role as the most revered brand in the city,” Blue said. “We were very lucky that they chose us to enter discussions with, and we’re very happy that we have closed. We have a lot of respect for the family history of owning those stores. We’re honored that they permitted and allowed us to continue that legacy.”
The first J’s Liquor store opened in 1955 with partners John “Hump” Tanner and Doc Oldham. Hump was an Owensboro High School and Centre College football star who went on to play for the Toledo Maroons, Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Bulldogs in the National Football League in the 1920s. For many years the liquor store was affectionately named Humps by the local residents.
Today, J’s Liquors is well-regarded in the region with the largest selection of spirits, wine and beer and a popular tasting bar and cheese shop. Liquor Barn is acquiring the stores from the Oldham family, who has operated them for the past several decades.
Blue said one of the biggest initial changes will be the improved e-commerce side of the business, including adding delivery service available through the Liquor Barn app and website. Blue said they are the largest deliverer of wine, beer and spirits in Kentucky.
“We’re very happy to add (delivery service),” Blue said. “It’s a very important component, especially during COVID, to have pick-up and delivery. Within a very short amount of time, stuff is either able to be picked up or on their doorstep or at their office.”
Other initial changes will include new signage, while it’s possible 2021 will feature some redesign of the buildings. There will also likely be some new inventory.
“There are some brands that are basically proprietary to us, which we’ll be bringing,” Blue said. “We’ll be extending the scope for sure. People will see very positive changes shortly.”
Blue said for now they don’t plan on any staffing changes, and they know it’s important to carry on the tradition of offering an experience that can only be found at locally owned businesses.
“We’re very pleased to be in Owensboro because it’s a very well-kept secret that it’s one of the largest cities in the Commonwealth,” Blue said. “We are locally owned in the state of Kentucky. The key is to make sure that everybody understands that we’re going to continue the essence of a locally owned family chain. We just plan on bringing things to improve it. It’s a growing market. We’re very happy to be a part of it.”
