CARLISLE, KYJ&J Liquors

Jim and Judy Shaw’s package store at 111 Walnut St., right next door to Talk of the Town. It took a couple of elections to get it open, and its walk-in cooler was the best hiding spot in Carlisle.

Polaroid of J&J Liquors: a small stone-front store with a Coca-Cola sign and a big J & J LIQUORS sign over the door, a parked car beside it, on a quiet street (open larger)
J&J, the stone front on Walnut Street
J & J LIQUORS111 WALNUT ST. · CARLISLE, KY
Props.
Jim & Judy Shaw
Next door
Talk of the Town
License notice
Apr. 28, 1983
Permit again
June 3, 1986
1 kid, hiding (cooler)N/C
1 sneaky sip;)
THANK YOU · COME AGAIN

Family photos are up in the Steamer Trunk

The walk-in cooler

Frosty door, heavy handle. Go on, open it.

The Wet/Dry Wars of 1982–83

How a dry town ended up half wet, as the Carlisle Mercury told it. Tap any clipping to read it bigger.

  1. Dec. 4, 1982

    Liquor loses by 37 votes

    Carlisle votes on liquor sales, and the “wets” come up short, 371 yes to 408 no. Jim Shaw, the wet side’s spokesman, tells the Mercury: “We are going to appeal.”

    Front-page story headlined 'Wets' will appeal close Carlisle vote, with the subhead Two applications for licenses in Myers; one first name is marker-redacted. (open larger)
    Dec. 9, 1982 · “‘Wets’ will appeal” Carlisle Mercury, p. 1. Jim Shaw, spokesman for the wet side, vows an appeal of the close vote.

  2. Dec. 9, 1982

    The recount

    A recanvass is held at his request. The count comes out exactly the same. Shaw says he will “proceed with step two in the appeal process.”

    News photo of officials gathered around a voting machine for the Carlisle liquor vote recanvass, with its caption; first names are marker-redacted. (open larger)
    Dec. 16, 1982 · “Carlisle recanvas held Thursday” Carlisle Mercury. The photo and its caption. Same count the second time.

  3. Feb. 17, 1983

    Round two

    “Another wet vote set for Sat., April 16.” New local-option petitions come in from the Mathias, City Building and Engine House precincts.

    Front-page story headlined Another wet vote set for Sat., April 16, with the subhead Beer on sale at Myers. (open larger)
    Feb. 17, 1983 · “Another wet vote” Carlisle Mercury, p. 1. (The paper’s own masthead misprints the year as 1982.)

  4. Apr. 16, 1983

    One side of Main Street dry, the other wet

    Precinct liquor vote, April 16, 1983
    PrecinctYesNo
    Mayor’s Office143195
    Engine House225226
    Mathias119110
    City Building11793

    Mathias and City Building go wet. That leaves Nicholas County with three wet precincts (Myers, City Building and Mathias) and room for three liquor licenses. Engine House misses by one vote.

    The same week, the Chamber of Commerce asks members whether its stand should be wet, neutral or dry. 81% of those voting back the stand it took. Jim Shaw is on its board.

    Front-page story headlined Liquor election result: One side of Main Street dry, the other wet, with the precinct vote table. (open larger)
    Apr. 21, 1983 · the result Carlisle Mercury, p. 1. The headline and the precinct table.
    Carlisle-Nicholas County Chamber of Commerce statement on its wet, neutral or dry stand, with its board of directors listed; two first names are marker-redacted. (open larger)
    Apr. 21, 1983 · the Chamber’s stand Carlisle Mercury. The Chamber statement and its board of directors.

  5. Apr. 28, 1983

    J&J files

    A classified notice: J&J Liquor, doing business at 111 Walnut St., Carlisle, will apply for a retail package liquor and retail beer license. Filed in the names of Jim and Judy Shaw.

    Classified legal notice: J&J Liquor doing business at 111 Walnut St., Carlisle, Ky., by A. Shaw and Judy M. Shaw, with a first name and a street marker-redacted, declares their intention to apply for a retail package liquor and retail beer license. (open larger)
    Apr. 28, 1983 · the license notice Carlisle Mercury classifieds. The earliest dated J&J record found. The home street is marked out.

  6. June 3, 1986

    Coda: back in business

    After an ABC-enforced shutdown the November before, three permits are issued in Nicholas County, effective June 3. J & J Liquors on Walnut Street gets one and goes back to its old spot.

    Short news item headed 1986, Three awarded liquor permits, naming J & J Liquors on Walnut Street, with one first name marker-redacted and a middle passage trimmed out. (open larger)
    1986 · “Three awarded liquor permits” Reprinted in the Mercury’s “Mercury Memories,” June 30, 2021, p. 6. Trimmed where it lists someone else’s address.

Manor lore · unverifiedWord around the Manor is that the cooler’s thermometer only ever read one thing: “just right for hiding.”

see also old Kentucky whiskey glass in the Bottle Cellar →
Next Door Talk of the Town ⟷ J&J Liquors step next door →

Also next door: The Locker Room →