Hays County Alcohol Sales

Top Performers in Hays Alcohol Sales

Leading the pack, Hays City Store on FM 150 W has achieved impressive sales, raking in $224,151. This establishment shows a strong preference for liquor, contributing $162,943 to their total receipts. Their beer sales are also noteworthy at $50,367, while wine sales remain modest.

Zelicks on W Hopkins St follows as a close second with total receipts of $172,484. While their liquor sales are robust at $114,396, beer seems to be their strong suit as well, with $57,051 in sales. Unlike many others, wine sales here are minimal, adding just over a thousand dollars to the tally.

Noteworthy Trends and Insights

Maverick's Dance Hall and Railhouse are neck and neck in terms of beer sales, with each bringing in just over $57,000. This trend suggests a strong beer preference among patrons in these venues. However, Maverick's edges out Railhouse in overall sales thanks to slightly higher liquor sales.

Whiskey Ridge stands out for having one of the highest wine sales figures at $25,525, second only to Trattoria Lisina, which has nearly 60% of its sales in wine. This suggests a wine-focused customer base at these venues, contrasting with the broader trend of liquor and beer dominance.

Additional Observations

It’s interesting to see Dripping Springs Distilling with a nearly exclusive focus on liquor sales, totaling $84,739, without any reported sales of wine or beer. This specialization might cater to a niche market or reflect their unique product offerings.

Meanwhile, Chimy's San Marcos and Mayloo's show a strong focus on liquor, with no wine sales reported. This pattern could indicate a strategic choice to cater to a specific clientele or align with their brand identity.

Top Performing Areas

In Hays, zip code 78666 is the clear leader in alcohol sales for July 2025, raking in an impressive $3,098,957 across 89 establishments. This area alone accounts for nearly half of the total sales in the region, making it a hotspot for potential new businesses looking to tap into a thriving market.

Alcohol Preferences by Zip Code

Liquor seems to dominate sales across most zip codes, but there's an interesting variation in preferences. While zip code 78666 has a significant 63% of its sales from liquor, zip code 78619 stands out with the highest liquor sales concentration at 66%. Meanwhile, zip code 78620 has a notable preference for wine, with 11% of its sales coming from this category, the highest among the zip codes.

Opportunities for New Establishments

With 215 establishments spread across six zip codes, there's a noticeable density in zip code 78666, which might suggest saturation. However, zip code 78619, with only 11 establishments and the lowest total sales of $579,507, presents an opportunity for new entrants to cater to untapped demand, especially given its unique sales mix favoring both liquor and wine equally at 17% each.

Interesting Insights

Beer remains a popular choice, especially in zip code 78640, where it makes up 36% of sales, slightly higher than its counterparts. This could indicate a niche market for beer-focused promotions or establishments. Additionally, despite having fewer establishments, zip code 78610 manages to pull a significant $1,016,377 in sales, suggesting a strong customer base that might support additional venues.

Overview of Alcohol Sales in Hays

Over the past year, alcohol sales in Hays have experienced some interesting fluctuations, with total receipts peaking in May 2025 at a whopping $9.5 million. This was a significant jump of 15.35% from April, likely indicating a seasonal boost or perhaps a special event that drove sales. Despite this peak, sales dipped by July, with total receipts dropping to around $7.3 million, reflecting a 4.51% decrease from June.

Trends in Alcohol Categories

Liquor consistently dominated the sales mix, accounting for the largest share of receipts each month. In May alone, liquor sales hit an impressive $5.8 million. However, by July, sales had cooled down to $4.4 million. Beer and wine sales followed a similar pattern, with beer seeing a high of $2.6 million in May before sliding to just over $2 million by July. Wine sales, though the smallest segment, also peaked in May at $821,147.

Establishment Dynamics

The number of establishments selling alcohol in Hays showed a slight increase over the year, starting with 214 in August 2024 and climbing to 227 by July 2025. This gradual growth, alongside the fluctuating sales, might indicate new market entrants testing the waters or a stable market attracting more players. Notably, despite the increase in establishments, the most significant sales spike didn't correspond to an increase in establishments, suggesting that existing venues were simply selling more.

Market Insights

The data suggests a potential seasonality in alcohol sales, with peaks around late spring. Business owners might want to consider this when planning inventory and marketing efforts, especially if May's surge was tied to specific local events or holidays. The year-over-year comparison isn't directly available, but the patterns suggest a resilient market with room for growth, particularly in liquor sales. Keeping an eye on seasonal trends and establishing a strong presence in liquor could be key strategies for maximizing profits.