Locally owned liquor store gives its final toast

Marv Johnson's customers, or friends, as he likes to say, have showered him with condolences for the past two weeks. And before his friends leave they buy their favorite liquors at 25 percent off.

Marlo's liquor and fine wine store on 1000 N. Carson St. will close Saturday after eight years of business in Carson City.

"It's just time," Johnson said. "It's hard for a little store to compete against all the big box stores, such as Costco and Wal-Mart."

Marlo's Ltd., which is a combination of his name and that of his wife, Lois, has a yellow and red "Going out of business sale" sign on the front window. Inside, the walls are bare, the shelves are nearly empty, and Johnson sits in a back corner reading a science fiction novel his son gave him.

Cars whiz by on North Carson Street, but the cash register sits silently against the wall, which is the main reason why Johnson is closing shop. After he announced the closing, customers grabbed up discounted gourmet olives, jams and jellies, escargot, Mexican tequila, flavored vodkas and Italian sparkling wines. Only about 10 percent of his stock is left.

But Johnson, 55, isn't too down about it. He laced his fingers behind his head, leaned back in his chair, and smiled. If you see sales are down and less people coming in, it's time to close, he said.

Many business owners have inquired about his spot on North Carson Street, Johnson said. He's leased the main street frontage for five years, and before that Marlo's was on 10th Street beside Carson Station.

The only thing he's really going to miss is not seeing his friends on a regular basis.

Johnson retired from Safeway after about 28 years. He moved to Carson City in 1991. He and Lois invested about $250,000 to get the business going. Johnson said his niche was specialty ordering.

So far, Johnson doesn't have any other business ventures planned.

Marlo's will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday.

Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.