Liquor Flows Once More From Dixie

After almost a year-long hiatus, Dixie Liquors, located near M St. and 35th St., is back in business.

The store, a long-time Georgetown establishment, reopened under new ownership on Dec. 21. It was closed in January 2007 and bought by three new owners — Jody Kurash, Mike Marucci and Ron Leoni — on June 8.

The reopening was plagued by renovation delays and contractors that “were as slow as molasses,” according to Kurash.

The store’s new floor plan has been arranged to alleviate congestion and to create more room for customers to browse the shelves. The store also boasts a special wine section, Kurash said.

Despite the delay, Kurash said that returning students have been “amazed” at the new interior.

“We have gotten positive feedback and are very proud of our store,” she said.

In addition to a new look, the owners obtained an on-premise tasting license and plan to host frequent events and promotions. The “Miller Lite Girls” are visiting Dixie tonight, and the store will also be hosting a tasting of French wines tomorrow, Kurash said.

The new Dixie will carry more high-end liquors and wines, while preserving their much-demanded keg service for the surrounding area, she said.

Dixie’s owners have seen a slightly diminished demand for their kegs, presumably due to the university’s new alcohol policies and increasing keg-deposit costs, Kurash said. The cost for a deposit on a keg has risen from $10 to $30 over the past year, which deters many students from purchasing kegs, she said. Students have adjusted by buying more cans of beer, and the store has seen an increase in the demand for 30-packs, Kurash said.

The new owners have also taken measures to protect themselves against D.C.’s harsh penalties for selling alcohol to underage customers. The store has a new identification scanner, and the owners took a course on how to spot fake identification by taking steps such as checking the expiration and birth dates on a piece of identification and scrutinizing the holograms on it.

But Kurash said she found many Georgetown students to be responsible and that she looked forward to welcoming back Dixie’s student customers.

Dixie has been a favorite among students because of its location close to campus, but some students say that more extensive options elsewhere lead them to other stores.

José Canto (COL ’08) said he currently shops at Wagner’s Liquors, located on Wisconsin Avenue. “Wagner’s has one of the most impressive selections of international lagers and wines I have seen at the best price,” Canto said. “If that were true at the new Dixie, it would become my market.”

Jessie George (COL ’08) said she may stop by Dixie for liquor tasting.

“I hear they’re having a vodka tasting and that there’s pink vodka, so I might have to go check that out,” George said.

The store and its events are overseen by both Kurash and Marucci, Kurash said. Kurash, who used to work with Marucci for the Associated Press as photo editors, said she had never owned a store before Dixie.

“It’s a new adventure,” she said. “There’s just so much to learn.”

— HOYA Staff Writer Richie Frohlichstein contributed to this report.