Turtle Creek Crossing Supermarket granted liquor license
According to Kathleen Flakus, Todd County Auditor, the grocery store was granted a “package off-sale malt beverage” license on August 18, 2010 which will allow them to sell beer and wine coolers. The license allows alcohol to be offered for sale seven days a week between the hours of 7 am through 2 am daily. The license must be renewed annually by July 1st.
Customers wishing to buy beer can do so Monday through Thursday from 8 am to midnight. Friday and Saturday hours will be from 8 am to 2 am. Sunday hours will be 9 am to midnight. A drive up window is located on the west side of the store. Tribal officials expect business to be brisk during this first weekend of sales which corresponds with Rosebud Fair.
Turtle Creek Crossing Supermarket held their grand opening on July 15, 2009. The store is located just west of Mission, SD. The tribally owned business has been allegedly hampered by fi- nancial problems since opening their doors.
The deli offers a seating area and usually serves a large lunch crowd during the week. However, shoppers sometimes complain of not being able to find the all grocery items they need in the store. Tribal officials often attribute low inventory on the fact that grocery trucks will not deliver unless they are paid in advance.
Other grocery shoppers say the high prices on some items force them to shop elsewhere. Two other grocery stores in the Mission area increased advertising efforts and lowered their food prices soon after the tribe held their grand opening.
The bulk of funding to build the grocery store came in the form of loans from the financially successful Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Loan payments of $50,000 per month are made from (1) store revenue, (2) store reserve account, and (3) casino revenue, in that order. The casino revenue was initially included as collateral and is supposed to only be tapped as a last resort. Proponents of alcohol sales by the tribe believe the move will bring in much needed revenue to keep the grocery store in business and supplement funding for other tribal programs. Alcohol opponents say this new outlet will only bring more problems to an area plagued with a myriad of issues stemming from alcoholism.
There are now three alcohol outlets on the Rosebud Reservation. The Prairie Hills Square Golf Course and Lounge has both on and off sale alcoholic beverages available. In addition, the Rosebud Casino and Fuel Plaza, which are also owned by the tribe, offers both on and off-sale alcoholic beverages.
Interestingly, RST Resolution 89-33 reads in part “for the spiritual well being of our children and families and for the survival and strengthening of our communities, from this day forward, let it be known that the Council of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe has declared war on all that is associated with alcohol and drug abuse and strive for the goal that by the year 2000 the Rosebud Reservation will be 100% drug and alcohol free.”
This tribal resolution regarding alcohol and drug abuse was initially approved in 1989, with reconsideration and amendments on December 5, 1996. The legislation has never been rescinded. For more information on alcohol sales at Turtle Creek Crossing Supermarket please call (605) 856-2711.
