Open for business:
Aloha Wine and Liquors first to serve Gulf Breeze
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News Ian Kaple with Aloha Wine and Liquors merchandises a section in the store with top-shelf spirits.

After voters decided to make Santa Rosa County wet in September 2005, the first liquor store in the Gulf Breeze area is open for business.

The company RKR beverages, which operates a similar store in Pensacola, purchased a retail liquor sales license from Gulf Breeze resident Gary Michaels.

RKR is doing business in Gulf Breeze as Aloha Wine and Liquors located at 2631 Gulf Breeze Pkwy.

"It's great to be the first one

in Gulf Breeze]," said owner Ian Kaple, who said the store has been open since June 19. "It's convenience. In the past Gulf Breeze residents had to drive to Pensacola or Fort Walton.

Michaels said it cost approximately $12,000 to get the license he won in the state-run lottery in December of last year. Michaels said he sold his license for close to $160,000.

"Ultimately, I didn't have an interest in having a liquor store or anything to do with liquor," Michaels said. "I like real estate and that's why I sold it."

Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News Owner Ian Kaple stocks the walk-in humidor at Aloha Wine and Liquors.

Kaple seemed more than happy to take any implied burden associated with the license.

"We taste thousands of wines so the public only has to taste the good ones... The great thing about wine is that every one is different and they evolve every day," Kaple said of the new retailer, which sells topshelf liquors, fine cigars, specialty beers and custom gift baskets.

Kaple said he is partners with the owners of Aloha Screen Printing, Kaipo and Lopaka Robello, who own the building where both companies are located.

Aloha Liquors is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

The store also features wine tastings every Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.After voters determined to lift the county-wide ban on liquor sales, close to 5,000 applied for the license. The state selected 17 recipients at random, including: Saxton, Cathy Gail - Milton; Martin, William McGuire - Pensacola; Shores, Robert Scott - Navarre; Lasalle, Carm Christopher - Pensacola; Phares, Robert Zane - Mary Esther; Hunt, Peter Byron - Pensacola; Rainer, Kimberly Schraishuhn - Pensacola; O'Donnell, Angela S. - Valrico; Norwood, Mike - Pensacola; Myers, Ralph N. - Fort Lauderdale; Antonacci, Peter - Tallahassee; Parker, Timothy Eben - Pensacola; Michaels, Gary Robert, et al. - Gulf Breeze; Sanchez, Todd Edward - Orlando; Kennison, Katherine Ann - Navarre; Fuller, Richard Thomas - Pensacola and Carter, Alla - Fort Myers.