Miss Brandon (WJTV) – Friday was a big day for Brandon as the city’s first liquor store opened its doors.
Customers poured into 042 Wines & Spirits for the first time on Friday 18th November.
“Well, it saves gas for a lot of people. It’s also safer in Brandon. I think it’s a really good thing here,” said customer Justin Davis.
Bringing 042 to the city was a process. Now that the business is here, the owners are excited about what’s to come.
“Continuing sales like we’ve seen so far, it’s just an improvement in the business and there’s more to come. We’re the first ones here, we have local families in town. We have a lot of kids and I think it’s good for the whole The community is there to help. We’re trying to better support them and do business,” said Ryan Carr, co-owner of the new liquor store.
According to the mayor of Brandon, there has been mixed response from the community and the leadership council. The City of Brandon is moving with the times.
“This committee has been deliberate and finally heard from people who are tired of commuting all the way to Jackson. They just want it close to home so they don’t have to travel. Brandon has changed a lot in the last ten years. We We’ve grown from 16,000 people to 26,000, and we’re no longer little tadpoles in a big pond. We’re growing into big tadpoles in a big pond,” said Mayor Butch Lee.
Some believe that opening a wine and spirits store in Brandon won’t change the city’s low crime rate or culture.