Due to location, this BC Liquor Store is one of the liquor stores I most frequent. Of course it…read moredoesn't have the vast selection of the large Signature stores, but it's a standard government liquor store, and a pretty good one at that. No issues, except for one cashier (who no longer works there) who made rude and unnecessary comments about my appearance 11 years ago when I went to pick up some wine on my birthday. (I age well, get over it -- no need to be rude because you're jealous because you look like a hag with frizzled hair). And for the most part, I can usually find what I want (sometimes they sell out of an item when it's on sale -- grrr!). It's also located in the same lot as Safeway, so it's convenient to grab a bottle of wine when you go grocery shopping. (BC has archaic liquor laws that do not allow alcohol sales in most grocery stores, so this is as convenient as it's going to get.) I'm rating this store four stars, and the next part has no bearing on the rating or store.
**CREEP ALERT**
On Friday May 17th, just after 6pm (around 6:04pm), I was walking through the parking lot after having purchased some wine for dinner. As I was walking through the parking lot, trying to get to the street, there was a car driving slowly near me. It was travelling in such a manner which made it difficult for me to decide which direction and how fast to walk without getting hit or getting in the way of the driver, as he was blocking the main exit and driving really slowly. And when I changed my pace and the direction I was walking to exit via a different route, the driver would continue to drive slowly without clear indication of which direction he was travelling, so that I risked getting hit no matter which direction I walked -- straight ahead or left, my only two options.
At first I thought it was just some douchey driver whose indecisiveness about which direction to drive made it annoying and dangerous for nearby pedestrians, but after I was visibly trapped, lest I risk getting hit, the asshole stopped his car, blocking the main exit, and said, "Where are you going? Do you want a ride?"
**OH HELL FUCKING NO!**
I immediately yelled at him to FUCK OFF (I sure as hell wasn't going to get into his rape-mobile), and the moment I pulled out my phone to take a photo of his license plate, Mr. Rapey sped off like a bat out of hell. He didn't just quickly drive off -- he got the hell out of there as fast as he could, as if he were afraid of something, a huge overreaction if he were really an innocent guy. Unfortunately I was not able to get a photo of his license plate, nor do I recall the type of car (I think it was a dark colored car), as I was busy trying to get the license plate and a good look at the creep. But I do recall that that first two letters were PD, the licence plate had a green background instead of the standard white, there was an L sticker on the back (L stands for "learner" and there are several restrictions on that type of license, the first in our province's "graduated licensing" program), the creep was Caucasian and fairly tanned, in his 30s or 40s with shaved or close cropped hair, and wearing a dark blue suit (he looked like a twat who spends a lot of time in tanning salons and getting manicures), all details I reported when I called the non-emergency police line.
I reported the incident because his behaviour was suspicious, inappropriate, and fucking creepy as hell, and it's important to report seemingly small incidents, in case there are other incidents in the area. I doubt that this is the first time he tried to lure a woman (or perhaps even a child) into his car. I also let my female friends who live in the neighbourhood know about what happened. If I ever see this creep or the car again, I will be calling 911 immediately. Sleazebags who harass women should not be allowed to get away with that behaviour.
Jasmine 1, creep 0.
[Yelp collections: Wine Time!]