“A handful of families” have been able to “establish virtual liquor store cartels,” says Travis Thomas, a spokesman for Texas for Consumer Freedom, which lobbies for large retailers.
The provision allowed members of an immediate family to pool their package store permits to form a single legal entity that would obtain an unlimited number of permits. That’s how the Rydman family, which owns Spec’s, the state’s largest liquor store chain, were able to amass a 163-store empire throughout Texas. Most other families, however, could only expand their operations beyond five stores.
Sen. Brian Birdwell (R), the sponsor of SB 750, said his intent is to “ensure that all Texas businesses are treated equally regardless of their tenure in the market or their familial makeup.”
A companion bill, HB 1872, was filed in the Texas House by Rep. Phil King (R) and was referred to the House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures.