Construction is well underway at 4925 Moccasin Wallow Road where ABC Fine Wine & Spirits is building its fifth location in Manatee County. The new two-story, approximately 11,000-square-foot store is part of the Woods of Moccasin Wallow Commercial development. It is located adjacent to Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers and just north of the Shoppes at Moccasin Wallow favorites like Gianni’s Pizza Express, Corporate Ladder Brewing, and The Greyson.
Crews have cleared the lot and started foundational work including footers and underground plumbing. According to official building permits and development plans, customers will shop on the first floor while the second floor will be used exclusively for merchandise storage. Staff will access the upper level via a freight elevator in a non-public area.
ABC Liquors Inc. purchased the site for $1.3 million in March 2024. The project was approved under site plan PLN2407-0172. Infrastructure for the area including roads, utilities, and stormwater management was previously developed by the subdivision’s master developer.
The store will operate under a 3PS Quota liquor license which allows the retail sale of beer, wine, and spirits for off-premises consumption only. Store hours are anticipated to be:
- Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Founded in 1936 as Jack Holloway’s Friendly Neighborhood Bar, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits has grown into Florida’s largest independent alcohol retailer, operating over 125 stores statewide and employing over 1,500 people, according to the retailer. The typical ABC store carries more than 10,000 different wines, spirits, and beers. Most stores also feature walk-in humidors, making ABC one of the top cigar retailers in the country.
According to research on national drinking habits, a small group of heavy drinkers accounts for the majority of alcohol consumption and, by extension, sales. In fact, the top 10 percent of drinkers in the U.S. consume more than half of all alcohol sold, averaging about 10 drinks per day. This raises concerns among public health experts who argue that new liquor outlets may disproportionately fuel problematic drinking rather than serve moderate consumers.1 2
Construction is expected to be complete with an estimated opening in spring 2026, as shown on a banner currently displayed at the construction site.
For more background on this project, see our original report from August 2024.
