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Success is in the bag for Silt Discount Liquors

Heidi RiceGlenwood Springs, CO Colorado
Kelley Cox Post Independent
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SILT, Colorado – Like a lot of business owners, Rick Aluise shows up for work in a black suit and tie. But instead of computers and copy machines, he is greeted with an array of bottles of wine.

Aluise and his wife, Janet, are the owners of Silt Discount Liquor in the Silt Trade Center east of town, and the store boasts an impressive collection of wine, cold beer and spirits.The store opened in August 2007, and business is good, Aluise said.”Wines are our specialty,” he said. “And if we don’t have what you’re looking for, we’ll special order it.” That hardly seems necessary with hundreds of different brands displayed on the shelves.And if you’re a beer drinker, the “beer cave” is just for you. Aluise has an entire cooled room stocked with loads of beer where customers can help themselves.Aluise resigned as town administrator of Silt after six years in May 2007, along with his wife, Janet, who was the town’s community development director.

Although he’s had experience owning retail stores in other areas, including the GNC natural food franchise in Broomfield and a partnership in two other stores, Aluise said he saw a need for his liquor store in Silt.”I’ve always enjoyed having my own retail business,” he said. “I thought there was a retail need here.”His roots run deep in the Silt area. Aluise’s great-grandfather, Raphael Zarlingo, homesteaded in the area north of Rifle in the 1880s. His grandfather, Joe Costanzo, had a liquor store in Grand Junction and later a grocery store in Silt where the Silt Town Hall parking lot is now located.Aluise also had two uncles who served as mayor of the town, and although he did not grow up in Silt, he has visited often and is now a resident.”I’ve spent a lot of time in and out of here, but I’ve been back in the area now for the past 10 years,” Aluise said.Aluise works full time at the store but says he will likely have to hire help when the new law passes in July allowing liquor stores to be open on Sundays.



“It was bound to happen eventually,” Aluise said with a shrug. “It will probably make 3.2 beer obsolete because people will come to a real liquor store to get their beer. During the football season, I expect to see an increase in sales.”And wine lovers will definitely find what they’re looking for within the store’s extensive collection.”Being Italian, I have to have my wine,” Aluise said with a smile.But are the prices really cheaper at Silt Discount Liquor?”We will match any price in the area,” Aluise said confidently.Silt Discount Liquor is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.


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