MARYSVILLE — When the state of Washington got out of the liquor business on May 31, Marysville’s Edward Chea and his family saw an opportunity to fill a gap in the local market while maintaining the store that’s become a fixture of the Allen Creek Shopping Center in town.

The Chea family purchased the liquor store at 6608 64th St. NE from the state on June 1 and reopened it as Marysville Liquor, Wine & Beer at Allen Creek on June 26. While the three members of the Chea family employed at the store have overseen some slight remodeling of the facilities, those who frequented the establishment back when it was a state-run store can still expect to see a couple of familiar faces, since the previous staff members have been retained.

“We wouldn’t have made it as far as we have without them,” said Edward Chea, owner and operator of Marysville Liquor, Wine & Beer at Allen Creek. “We’re growing a little bit each day, as the community gets to know that we’re still here.”

Sue Rossi was employed at the state-run liquor store in the Allen Creek Shopping Center for three years, prior to which she worked in retail and grocery stores as a wine steward. She’s appreciated being able to keep a part-time job that’s close to home and run by a local family, and her approach to customer service likewise relies on a more personal touch.

“We always greet the customers when they come in, and our goal is always to become familiar enough with them that you can get to know what they prefer to drink. I’ve learned some folks’ favorite drinks before I’ve found out their names.”

While Chea touted the store’s current selection of more than 500 different spirits, he echoed Rossi’s concern with the customers’ tastes by noting that he’s sought all of his customers’ input on which varieties of beer, wine and other liquors they want to see stocked on his shelves.

“Our business has been steady, and we’ve been getting a lot more requests,” Chea said. “Flavored vodka seems to be popular.”

“We’ve started stocking a huge variety of vodkas,” Rossi said. “We’ve been getting in more of a selection of tequilas as well. Tequila used to be just a summer drink, but it’s become a year-round seller.”

Chea acknowledged that his store’s selection doesn’t yet include all of the varieties that the state had stocked, but he’s building that base back up with selections from a number of local vineyards and distilleries.

“We’ll be able to offer kegs-to-go in the months to come,” said Chea, who touted the store’s “Happy Hour” sales specials, every Friday from 3-9 p.m., as well as its discounts and other information on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/marysvilleliquorstore. “We’re not a big box corporation. When people talk to me, they’re talking to the owner, so that feedback gets through. We’re a local family that’s run businesses in the area before, and we want our customers to feel free to communicate with us.”

Marysville Liquor, Wine & Beer at Allen Creek is located at 6608 64th St. NE, in the Allen Creek Shopping Center, and is open seven days a week, Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to midnight, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call them at 360-547-6450.