Upcoming liquor store driven by customers’ interests

Creston Liquor, expected to open in early May at 804 Laurel, may be a customer-driven store that will be hard to match.

Tajiden Kumar, who owns University Liquor in West Des Moines, is behind the Creston location.

“I want to see what Creston people like,” he said about his plans for inventory. He has not finalized exactly what will be on the shelves when he opens but that is not his biggest concern.

What Creston customers want is his priority.

“I will start and then after some time I expect a customer to say, ‘I’m looking for this,’” he said about a customer’s request. Then Kumar will contact his distributors to see availability.

The Creston’s store liquor license was approved Tuesday by Creston City Council.

Kumar was influenced to open a store in Creston by a person who was familiar with Union County and was in his West Des Moines location. The timing was right as his business partner was also interested in expanding.

“We were looking for another place,” he said. “Creston is a good town that doesn’t have a liquor store.” He is aware of the Creston grocery stores that also sell liquor and wine.

Kumar said University Liquors is intentional as its features premium varieties of wine, liquor and craft beer.

Kumar also said he does not know when his Creston store will be open during the day. He expects that to evolve with customers’ interest, too.