Chris Richards worked for more than 30 years at Iola’s largest employer, Gates Corporation.
As such, he became familiar with scores of coworkers, past and present, through the years until he retired from the hose manufacturing plant earlier this summer.
“But I’ve never met as many people as I do now,” he said with a smile.
Richards’ retirement included purchase of the former Piley’s Liquor, 311 West St., and renaming the retail liquor store as Little Mac’s Liquor in late July.
“I saw this as a business opportunity,” Richards said. “Business has been good. We’ve had a lot of good people come by.”
Little Mac’s offers a full selection of domestic and imported beers, wines, malt liquors, wine coolers and flavored malt beverages.
Richards also accepts specialty orders upon request.
“I’ve learned pretty quickly there’s more to running a liquor store than you might think,” Richards said. “There’s a knack to knowing how much to order, depending on where you’re ordering it.”
Little Mac’s Liquor was formerly owned by Brad and Janal Piley of Humboldt.
Richards’ family, including his wife, Marty, help man the store seven days a week.
Little Mac’s is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
New owner takes on liquor store
