On Dec. 15, Minnesota State Auditor Julie Blaha released the 2021 Municipal Liquor Store Report which is an in-depth analysis of the 177 municipal liquor stores which operate in Minnesota.

While the combined net profit of all municipal liquor operations in the state showed an increase of 1.3 percent and Minnesota’s municipal liquor operations reported a 26th consecutive year of record sales, the news for two of the four stores located in Faribault County was not as positive.

Elmore, with a net loss of $4,924, and Kiester, with a net loss of $1,609, were the two municipal liquor stores in the county to show losses. There were a total of 13 stores in the state that showed net losses in 2021.

Minnesota law requires cities to hold a public hearing on the future of their liquor store(s) if the liquor operation shows a net loss in at least two of the past three years.

Unfortunately for Elmore and Kiester, they are two of the 20 cities in Minnesota listed as needing to hold a public hearing. Sixteen of the 20 cities were also required to hold a public hearing the previous year.

Kiester has already held their public hearing and the decision has been made to keep their liquor store open.

Elmore plans on holding their public hearing on Jan. 9, according to city clerk Mandy Emmers.

When looking at gross sales for 2021, Blue Earth’s liquor store ranked 70th out of 177 with gross sales of $1,864,553. Wells was 88th with gross sales of $1,168,568. Kiester came in at 170th with gross sales of $216,217 and Elmore was dead last with gross sales of $98,830.

Comparing the state’s municipal stores by net profit/(loss) as a percentage of sales shows Wells ranking at 100 and Blue Earth at 101 with each store showing a 7.9 percent profit.

Kiester’s net profit of a negative .7 percent placed them at 166 and Elmore’s net profit of a negative 5 percent had them coming in last at 177.

All four of Faribault County’s municipal liquor stores are off-sale only.

In 2021, Blue Earth’s store showed a net profit of $146,626 while Wells had a net profit of $91,988.

Although the final numbers for 2022 are not yet in, Blue Earth Wine and Spirits manager Dave Olson says it was another profitable year for the store in Blue Earth.

“It will not be as good as 2021, but we will still show a nice profit,” Olson said. “Sales were up when everybody was dealing with COVID and have decreased as COVID has become less of an issue. We are just so appreciative of the support the community gives us.”

Wells city administrator Connor LaPointe reports 2022 does not look as though it will be as profitable as 2021 for the Wells Liquor Depot.

“Obviously, we do not have our December sales figures yet,” LaPointe commented. “I would say we are right on the fence on whether or not we will show a profit for 2022.”