I posted a list of LA & OC Liquor Barn stores from 1985 at http://www.groceteria.com/board/viewtopic.php?p=5217. None of them are currently BevMo stores. I didn't see a Whittier store listed anywhere, though that's not to say it didn't exist.
Liquor Barn started in La Mesa by Safeway's Steve Boone in the early 1980s as a store called ALPS (Always Low Price Store), later called ALPS Liquor Barn. By 1986 there were 104 LBs, all in California. The UK's Majestic Wine Warehouses bought it from Safeway in 1987 in an LBO. LB filed for bankruptcy in November, 1988. Intermark, then called Triton Group, bought LB from Majestic in 1989. LB closed its 19 Socal stores in 1991. They kept 44 stores in San Diego and 38 in Norcal. I don't know at what point those stores closed, but Intermark filed for bankruptcy in 1992.
Steve Boone then founded BevMo. The first BevMo was in a former LB in Walnut Creek and opened in 1994.
As for Food Barn, 8 locations opened in the LA area in 1980. I'll post the list in the commercial archaeology section when I get a chance.
Veteran
Also, possibly LIQUOR PLAZA? There was an ALPHA BETA on the corner of Colima & Whittier Boulevard. It is now Trader Joe's. ALPHA BETA closed the store...and it reopened as LIQUOR PLAZA...which is assume was to compete with LIQUOR BARN. LIQUOR PLAZA did not last too long. Wondering if there were any other LIQUOR PLAZA locations?!Jeff wrote:crap, I'm thinking liquor mart.