Few retailers in the Roaring Fork Valley remain open after a statewide order shut down those that were not deemed essential. Liquor stores and dispensaries are on the short list of essential businesses, but are reporting a slowdown in sales.
Local liquor stores and dispensaries say they’re seeing crowds comparable to offseason.
“We were expecting to have three more solid weeks of really, really busy season,” said Cale Mitchell at Aspen Grog Shop. “You can't really compare right now to what it should be because it's nothing of what it should be.”
With few tourists in town, shoppers have mostly been locals. But the customers that do come into the store express gratitude.
“Almost every single person is like, ‘Oh, my God, thank you guys for still being open,’” Mitchell said.
Just next door on Durant Avenue, The Green Joint Dispensary is still doing business, although they have to bring products outside of the store to awaiting customers.
"We are just fortunate that we can be open, and we are one of those essential businesses."
“We are just fortunate that we can be open, and we are one of those essential businesses.” said manager Kevin Doxtater. “We do have to kind of jump through a little bit more hoops now with the curbside-only pick-up.”
Doxtater says shoppers who stop by to pick up cannabis products are “stocking up a little bit more than normal” and saying they’re grateful the store is open.
“They’re like, hey, we have nothing else to do. So they are super thankful. They're paying it forward with tips. They're all happy that we're here.”
