Wal-Mart Wants Sam's Club To Sell Alcohol

Wal-Mart is poised to enter yet another market: liquor. This goal is going over well with local liquor store owners in Fayetteville, where a local Sam's Club is attempting to obtain a liquor license:

FAYETTEVILLE -- A battle over booze could stop the world's largest retailer from opening a store in Fayetteville.

A group of local liquor store owners want to block a Sam's Club that would be the first in the state to sell liquor. Wal-Mart officials want to open a 135,000-square-feet store at the southwest corner of Arkansas 112 and Interstate 540.

The state Alcoholic Beverage Commission will hear a request July 20 to transfer an existing liquor license to the proposed Sam's Club.

Jay Gillespie, manager of Liquor Mart and Wine Shoppe, said allowing Sam's Club to sell liquor circumvents Arkansas law, which prohibits selling liquor with other merchandise.

Add liquor stores to a growing list of small businesses that would be affected if Wal-Mart enters New York City.