anchor Description
This level of effort project is intended to provide a structured process to ensure that all Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) retail store locations are modernized and updated to provide customers with a friendlier shopping experience in well-merchandised stores that offer choice, convenience, and knowledgeable staff. Once a retail store has been refreshed, it could offer a more aesthetically pleasing and safer shopping experience with new flooring and lighting, wider shopping aisles, tasting rooms, pairing dinners, and other special events. Flooring, painting, shelving, updating restrooms, and work identified for major building systems (including roofing, mechanical/heating, ventilation, and air conditioning [HVAC], and windows) will be included to "freshen up" the retail stores and ensure working and efficient operating systems.
anchorEstimated Schedule
ABS started remodeling stores in within the operating budget, with four refurbishment projects at the Darnestown, Cabin John, Montrose, and Wheaton retail store locations. The remodel schedule will align with lease expirations with stores being remodeled in the year in which their lease is negotiated for renewal with the understanding that all stores will be evaluated and refurbished prior to the end of the CIP project. ABS identifies the stores to be refreshed approximately months before planning and design work begins.
anchorCost Change
Cost decrease reflects an adjustment to the project scope focused on a more limited refurbishment model.
anchor Justification
This project is a vital piece of ABS's Five-Year Financial Plan to increase its transfer to the County. Further, this project will give ABS the ability to leverage external funding that will eliminate the need to use debt financing or tax dollars. Many of the retail stores have not been updated for years. Ensuring that ABS is able to execute its multi-year plan to renovate/upgrade its outdated retail stores is key to providing better service to its clientele. This project will also allow ABS to leverage contributions from landlords who will match, and in some cases, exceed the investment ABS will make in each store remodel - an investment the landlords will not commit to without the County funding appropriation.