Fortunately we live in a free enterprise society where the viability of an enterprise is determined by the amount of business that is generated versus its costs. This is how it should be. If residents and workers in Menlo Park and surrounding communities did not value this BevMo, they would not shop at it, and it would go out of business. But, the community has shown that it does value BevMo by voting with its dollars.

This is a much better system than one in which a small group of citizens and even smaller group of competing merchants try to use local government to prevent the establishment of an enterprise.

BevMo has done a great service for wine buyers in the area by at least providing an alternative to Draegers and Beltramos, two merchants who enjoyed too little competition for too long.

Historically, the Menlo voters when polled and by their votes have shown their support for a number of issues than those tomato throwers who show up to council and commission meetings to say, "Whatever it is, we're against it"

Fred - the tomato throwers have now moved on to another project:

Web Link

The real objectors to the Bevmo were Beltramos and Draegers. They didn't want anyone messing with their ability to sell alcohol at obscene prices. After the disgusting behaviour of Beltramos management, ORDERING their employees to go to the city council meeting to speak against Bevmo, I haven't set foot in their establishment. And I won't in the future. The Beltramos seem to think they have some lock on my alcohol expenditures. They don't and I'll drive up to K&L for the unusual items that Bevmo doesn't stock.

Serious miscalculation on the part of Beltramos.

Never did shop @ Dragers for me bevmo items. Have not shopped @ Beltromos since Bevomo opened, and will not. Bevomo has been a good place to shop and the prices r right and i do no have to go to Redwood City and my sales taxes stay in Menlo. Wonderful!!!!!

I love the BevMo. I refuse to shop at Beltramo's, as does my family in Menlo. We've stayed loyal to K&L as well & happily bypass the Big B to shop there.