State Liquor Stores Essential, Local Restaurants Are Not?!

Liquor is deemed by the state as essential if bought at state liquor stores. But not essential if the livelihoods of small business owners are in question. Why is this?

Richard Markosian

April 11, 2020

As Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall decided to extend restaurant and bar closures to at least May 1st, State Liquor stores have long lines as customers wait for their essential remedies for staying home.

Liquor is deemed by the state as essential if bought at state liquor stores. But not essential if the livelihoods of small business owners are in question. Why is this?

In this episode of the Utah Stories podcast, we discuss this issue with local restaurant owner Eddee Johanson, the owner of Yoshis Japanese Grill.

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Richard Markosian

I am a story teller and journalist. I have a passion for farmers, local craftspeople, and folks who aspire to create, build and grow their business in the local marketplace. Why local? By supporting locally-owned businesses we create more opportunity for entrepreneurs, and we claim our sovereignty to shape our communities how we want to see them. I aspire to build Utah Stories Magazine into a household Utah name, and assist Utah businesses and makers with marketing. On the journalism side of things my passion is investigative journalism that offers true insight into issues. I believe strongly in the forth estate: strong, meaningful, insightful journalism is essential to a free market Democracy.