New Liquor, Vape Store Coming to Dubuque’s Key West Neighborhood

One of Dubuque's only standalone liquor stores is appearing to expand in the city's Key West neighborhood. It will mark their third location in the area.

Coming from the western Chicago suburbs, where liquor stores are as ubiquitous as gas stations, and now living in two comparably smaller regions, I'm always surprised to see how liquor stores are uncommon. Don't get me wrong, Dubuque in particular makes up for the deficit with bars, not to mention gas stations, Dollar Generals, and grocery stores that sell alcohol, but there are desperately few liquor stores in the area.

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Dubuque Liquor Store Set to Expand Again:

Whilst running errands on my Sunday afternoon, I noticed that the former PetMed Veterinary Clinic (2400 Gateway Drive in Dubuque's Key West neighborhood) is now being renovated as the second offshoot of Dubuque Wine & Spirits. Per the location's new sign, the Key West location is called "Dubuque Smoke & Spirits." Being the smallest of its three locations, and judging by the sign, this particular store will be home to a selection of beer, liquor, and vaping products, as opposed to wine. That's purely speculation on my part, at this time.

Dubuque Wine & Spirits presently has two locations in Dubuque. One at 2013 Central Avenue, and the other at 3305 Asbury Road. This new Key West location, serving the southernmost end of Dubuque, will effectively have the business operating to the point where there is a store to serve customers at every end of the city.

Contrary to the sign declaring the business "NOW OPEN!," it is in fact not open. The door is locked, and peering into the window shows a store that is still in need of being assembled, from shelving to product placement. There is no timetable on when Dubuque Smoke & Spirits will open.

Dubuque Smoke & Spirits is located at 2400 Gateway Drive.