Territory’s biggest liquor store opens

TERRITORY businessman Gary Coleman’s first foray into the liquor industry was at the age of 16

Owners Gary and Duffy Coleman at the new Pinelands store. Picture: JUSTIN KENNEDY

TERRITORY businessman Gary Coleman’s first foray into the liquor industry was at the age of 16.

Legally, he wasn’t able to buy beer, but the law permitted Mr Coleman to open the Territory’s first drive-thru alcohol store — with the help of his family — in 1965.

This week was another milestone for Mr Coleman, who, together with wife Duffy, opened stage one of the NT’s biggest liquor store.

The One Stop Cellarbrations Liquor Superstore’s drive-thru officially opened in Pinelands on Thursday, and the attached retail store was expected to open within 10 days.

Mr Coleman said there was a need for more variety in the Territory alcohol industry.

“Does Darwin need a superstore and the choices that bring with it? We definitely do,” he said.

“It’s been our dream to open this shop ... we’ve built our dream.”

Mr Coleman said the retail component of the store was finished, but — to comply with NT Government legislation — they had to contract the retail area of their store.

The 400sqm floor space restriction was enacted late last year and blocked liquor giant Dan Murphy’s from coming to Darwin.

“The legislation talks about shoppable area,” Mr Coleman said.

“We will just adjust our floor plan to work with the legislation — we might make the shoppable area within the coolroom smaller to comply.

“That won’t reduce our range whatsoever.”

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said she would “listen to the community” on alcohol policy, but plans to scrap Labor’s decision to limit floor size of bottle shops to 400sqm was not on the agenda.

In March, a Dan Murphy’s spokesman congratulated the store on developing within the 400sqm rules.

“Dan Murphy’s enjoy competing against Cellarbrations and every other national chain store in every other State and Territory except the Northern Territory,” he said.