Photo: Gone are the gas pumps and other convenience store offerings as the former Royals Liquor store transforms into the second largest Gomer’s in KC. Photo by Kathy Feist
Gomer’s Liquors opens at 103rd and State Line
By Jill Draper
There’s a lot of remodeling activity happening at the newest Gomer’s liquor store on 103rd Street just east of State Line Road. Floor tiles are being scraped up, shelves are being installed, walls are being painted and counters are being replaced.
Still, it’s been open for curbside business since April 10. The new owner, Jim Probst, said he and his brother Jack purchased the former Royal Liquors building from Jim Kasick, who retired. The gas pumps are gone and there will be no more convenience store items like bread and milk. Instead, Gomer’s 103rd will be the second largest Gomer’s store in the metro area (there are six stores with the largest in Lenexa).
The full-service liquor store will have an expanded selection of wine, beer and spirits along with chips, soda, mixers and accessories.
“Business has been really good since all this is going on,” Probst said amidst the din and dust of tile being removed. “The floor is our biggest undertaking,” he added, noting the end result will be a stylish polished concrete look. Already he has added new curbing for a more accessible entranceway, and he expects to put up a canopy and signs in several weeks.
He noted that the majority of Royal Liquors employees have been rehired.
Probst said that Gomer’s 103rd will not compete with Gomer’s South at 99th and Holmes Road because it replaces an existing liquor store. Another liquor store, Berbiglia Wine & Spirits, was located across 103rd Street, but closed several years ago. The building is still vacant.
Gomer’s 103rd plans a grand opening in mid-summer.