IOWA STATE LIQUOR STORE NO. 26

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Liquor store employee tag. Photo courtesy: Jim Lang

IOWA STATE LIQUOR STORE. On March 8, 1934, Iowa became one of the original 'control' or 'monopoly' states and assumed direct control over the wholesale and retail distribution of all alcoholic beverages except beer. Also effective on this date, the general public was required to obtain a special permit from the Liquor Control Commission and to present a special booklet to purchase liquor (repealed May 16, 1963); and, liquor stores are required to be closed on national, state and municipal election days. (Repealed Jan. 1, 1972.)

On June 19, 1934, Iowa's first retail liquor stores are opened in Des Moines, Marshalltown, Mason City, Atlantic and Oelwein.

In 1972 the liquor commission relocated the city's singe liquor outlet from downtown to the west end of Dubuque. The action drew swift attack from some Dubuque officials and the commission promptly promised a store downtown. Nearly a year was spent looking for a site after the Iowa Legislature appropriated funds for it in 1973.

In 1974 the announcement was made that the former Iowa Employment Security Commission office in Dubuque was chosen as the second site. A building at 351 Main would be demolished for parking and for access to another parking lot at the rear of the building. The building was owned by the estate of James N. YIANNIAS whose son Nicholas J. YIANNIAS headed the company that owned the Kennedy Road liquor store building. (1)

The 1939 through 1959 Dubuque City Directory listed 602 Locust.

The 1977 Dubuque City Directory listed 170 John F. Kennedy Road and 375 Main.

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Source:

1. Fyten, David. "Downtown Liquor Store Site Told," Telegraph-Herald, May 20, 1974, p. 1

State of Iowa Alcohol Beverage Division. Historical Highlights. Online: www.iowaabd.com/about/division/historical_highlights