Liquor outlet in Roosevelt to reopen

Seven-year-old Avery Moon became frustrated when he overheard his parents frequently discussing whether to apply for a state contract to reopen the Roosevelt liquor outlet.

Finally, he announced: "Please be the boss of grandpa's store."

State regulators have approved a contract for his father and mother Michael and Heather Moon to open the liquor outlet in Roosevelt, which has been closed since March, at the same location, 28 S. 200 East. Opening date is set for June 20.

Store hours are noon to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sundays.

Officials closed the Roosevelt store after the outlet's longtime operator, Heather's dad Kenneth Iorg, 52, was killed March 24 while driving to a fire that broke out in a travel trailer parked at his Roosevelt home. Police attributed the accident to a medical condition. Survivors include wife Louise Iorg; Heather, 26; and the couple's two other younger children.

The outlet is among 36 state package agencies, which are different from larger state-owned stores because they are privately run operations in small towns and resorts. Most are stand-alone structures, although seven operate inside markets or other small businesses.

The Roosevelt outlet is one of the state's largest package agencies, with annual sales of nearly $1 million.

"This is a great opportunity for us," said Heather Moon. "We're ecstatic."

For several years, both she and her husband periodically worked at the store to help her father during busy times.

She grew up in Roosevelt, and until now has been a stay-at-home mother.

Michael Moon, 26, was born and reared in Duchesne and has worked at his father's oil transportation firm, KNM Trucking, based in Duchesne County.

The Moons have remodeled the outlet for a "clean fresh look," said Michael. "We redid the flooring, and will get different shelving, to dress things up a bit. We're pretty excited."

The Moons are the parents of five children, including two adopted youngsters, ranging in age from 7 years to 4 months.

dawn@sltrib.com

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Liquor package agencies

Numbers • 36 outlets are located in rural towns statewide

Operators • They are run by private contractors in stand-alone stores or in outlets in small businesses

Sales • Last year they totaled $11.4 million.