The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is in talks with the Retirement Systems of Alabama to construct a new liquor warehouse and administrative headquarters. The agreement is likely to involve leasing the space with an option to purchase. The RSA has experience building state buildings across Alabama, including a new State House in Montgomery. This new project is still in development, with a potential timeline yet to be finalized.
The ABC has been renting its current warehouse in Montgomery for almost 40 years, but with growing demand, it has become too small and inefficient. This year, legislation was passed allowing ABC to own its warehouse space, while retail space still needs to be leased. The agency’s sales have nearly doubled in the past decade, leading to the need for a larger storage facility.
An RFP has been issued for a 250,000-square-foot warehouse with expansion capabilities up to 325,000 square feet to accommodate future growth. Lawmakers believe that owning their warehouse space will be more cost-effective in the long run and will benefit the citizens of the state through increased funding for the General Fund and other state agencies.
Sen. Sam Givhan sees the RSA option as a sensible choice, providing ABC with more negotiating power for new space. The potential new warehouse is expected to meet the growing demands of the state’s liquor distribution needs, allowing for increased efficiency and sales volume.
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