New liquor store opens in Landrum

LANDRUM — The local community now has a new establishment to saddle up to for its libation needs.

After several months of construction, Landrum’s newest business, O’Darby’s Liquor Barn, opened its doors to the public this week. The store, located at 127 Fairwinds Drive, sells a massive selection of wine, spirits and beer, with a focus on competitive pricing and friendly, community-centric service, said owner Doug Hinson.

Inside O’Darby’s, customers can find hundreds of different brands and types of liquor, including whiskey, tequila, brandy and more, some of which have been preselected by the store’s ownership while still being aged in the barrel, Hinson said. Visitors can also check out the shop’s selection of wine — including special vintages that celebrate the Clemson Tigers’ various national championships — as well as its beer area, which includes a variety of craft beers, and assortment of cigars.

Whether it is someone coming to the liquor shop with a particular drink already in mind or someone who is hoping to browse until inspiration hits, the store’s team — made up entirely of local faces — are more than willing to help and answer questions, Hinson said.

“If you can’t find it, and we can buy it in South Carolina, we’ll get it for you,” he said.

While a newcomer to the Landrum area, Hinson is far from a newbie when it comes to selling liquor.

In 2004, after being laid off from his job in the textile industry, the Hinson and his neighbor, Tim Molony,  decided to start their own business, Hinson said.

“We were cooking out, enjoying a few drinks and talking about things we could do,” he said. “At some point, one of us said ‘You know, you never see liquor stores close down.’ After that, we decided to give it a go.”

Naming their business after Molony’s daughter, the two opened their first store in their hometown of Rock Hill, South Carolina. Over the next several years, they would go on to open two more stores in the city, with Hinson’s son, Moe, joining to help manage the operation.

With the Rock Hill market covered, the owners decided to expand their award-winning company into new territory. At the suggestion of one of his customers, Hinson decided to make a visit to Landrum to scout out possible locations for a new shop — and found the perfect place to do so, leasing a plot of land from Maston Homes, a Landrum building contractor.

Maston builders spent several months constructing the site of the new shop, going with a barn theme that would mesh well with the local equestrian community, which colors much of the Foothills region’s character, Hinson said. Instead of calling the store O’Darby’s Fine Wine & Spirits like his locations in Rock Hill, the owner decided to run with the theme and call his shop O’Darby’s Liquor Barn.

The store incorporates the equestrian theme in a number of other ways, including offering a customer loyalty program called “The Saddle Club,” which offers members regular discounts and other deals, Hinson said.

While the staff is still working to get the store fully stocked, Hinson said the team would like to begin organizing weekly wine and liquor tastings in the near future.

The owner is also making connecting with the local community a priority as well, he said. The store recently joined the Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce, and Hinson said he intends to continue to hire local residents and to support other local businesses and charities as often as possible.

“We believe in having a strong presence in the community, which  is how we grew in Rock Hill,” he said. “If you take money from the community, you should give back to the community.”

O’Darby’s Liquor Barn is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Those interested in learning more may call the shop at 864-457-1557 or may visit odarbysliquorbarn.com.