Urban Liquor's New Owners Promise Longer Hours, More Products

Have you had a hiccup in your holiday shopping and need a last minute gift?

, a presence in the downtown Urbandale area for 25 years, will extend its hours and its inventory under its new owners.

The business at 6401 Douglas Ave. was transferred from one family to another Monday.

Urban Liquor had been operated by Lynn Schoelerman and her family for a quarter of a century. It has been purchased by the Chauhan brothers, who own the Cork & Bottle liquor store in Oskaloosa.

The transition will mean a new look for the business.

Urban Liquor might have been one of the more unusual liquor stores in the metro area. Its previous owners weren't crazy about their product.

"This is the funny part. None of our family drink," said the store's previous manager, Nicole Schoelerman, Lynn's daughter.

They aren't teetotalers. They routinely sampled drinks at trade shows to determine what to order and to understand the products they sold. But at home, drinking alcohol is just not something the family does. 

Ask them which wine they recommend with Christmas dinner and they could tell you, but it won't be on their table. Their family tradition is oyster stew and chili, chased with a cup of apple cider.

Then there was the side business the two women ran run at the store the past four years.

While you were picking up a six-pack of beer or a fifth of Scotch, you also could grab some hand-made earrings, a knitted scarf, or something ceramic.

Lynn Schoelerman used to operate a craft store, and the two women love to make crafts. It's a relaxing, creative way for them to spend time together, Nicole said. 

Nicole said her mother had a couple of health scares in recent years and decided to retire early. The women will keep their crafts business going, she said.

Mike and Alex Chauhan were surveying their new business Monday. The phone had been disconnected and there wasn't much inventory left on the shelves, but the men were laying plans for their business.

The new, extended hours will be from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the week and until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

They plan to keep the drive-thru open and will add more products, based on customer requests. In addition to selling alcohol and tobacco, they may add some groceries, they said.

Alex said they also plan to add delivery service. The delivery fee will be nominal and will be waived for senior citizens.