The holiday season is fast approaching, and many people are preparing their Christmas lists and checking it twice.

During a season of celebration and spending quality time with loved ones, longtime family owned and operated Vick Liquor’s in Seymour has what everyone needs to make their holiday season one to remember.

Whether it’s alcohol needed for a family celebration, holiday-themed cocktails or gift ideas, Vick’s has you covered.

Vick’s Liquors opened in 1949 by Vick Fettig and his wife, Dorothy, in a little black building across the parking lot from its current location at 400 E. Tipton St.

In 1967, they didn’t move far and have been serving customers of Jackson County in their current building since then. Current owner Keith Yazell said various family members and friends would help run the store throughout the years until the original owner died in 1974. Then his wife and Keith’s mother, Norma, stepped up to run the business.

Yazell said many of past and current employees have worked for a number of years, giving the business a longstanding history.

“We like to think of it as a family-run business where all of our employees are family,” he said.

In fact, a former employee of Vick’s Liquors, Ross Maschino, who recently died, worked for the business for 53 years, and come next year, Norma will mark her 50th anniversary of owning and operating the business with her son.

Dorothy and Norma owned and operated the liquor store together until 1990 when Dorothy died. That same year, Yazell turned 21, and since then, he has helped his mom run the business.

“The heritage is what makes us different from other liquor stores and the length we have been in business,” Yazell said. “Next year, we will celebrate 75 years in business, and it’s amazing to carry on the family business.”

Yazell said being a family owned and operated business isn’t the only aspect that sets them apart from other liquor stores. He said their price selection sets them apart from others as well offering competitive prices and offering various tastings two times a month. These tastings range from a variety of liquors, wine and spirits that allow the community to come and enjoy something new while also meeting new people.

Yazell said various other distributors also will visit the store to conduct their own tastings, so the store is often buzzing with activity.

Over the years, Yazell said what he enjoys the most about owning and operating a liquor store is meeting new people every day.

“You get to meet interesting people from all aspects of life,” he said. “You get to know them and oftentimes become good friends.”

Yazell said the best part about his entrepreneur experience is working alongside his mom and learning about the business through others who came before him.

With the holiday season being one of the busiest times of year for gift shopping, it also is one of the busiest times of year for liquor stores.

According to a survey conducted by OnePoll in 2018, the average American consumes double the amount of alcoholic drinks over the holidays than any other time.

Yazell agreed that the holiday season is one of their busiest times of the year, mentioning Christmas and New Year’s as their two biggest days in sales. Another busy holiday he mentioned is the Fourth of July.

“We always refer to New Year’s Eve as our Super Bowl,” he said.

Yazell said he believes as people come together for the holidays, they enjoy this time during the year to celebrate.

“What better way to celebrate,” he said.

Vick’s Liquors currently offers a variety of gift sets for people looking for ideas during the holiday season.

“Gift sets can be a great gift from someone because they usually come with something special, like a glass set or some little trinket associated with the product,” Yazell said.

Yazell recommends knowing a little about what the person you are buying a gift for likes to drink and then stop in and ask an employee to find the perfect gift.

“You can’t go wrong with a gift set,” he said. “Bourbons, vodkas and tequilas make great gift sets, and we offer a variety of price ranges.”

For those in a hurry or making last-minute holiday plans, Yazell suggests premixed drinks, kegs or party buckets, where all you need is one simple ingredient: Ice.

As the holidays sleigh closer and closer, Yazell said to be on the lookout for more holiday gift ideas, winter-themed cocktail recipes and other surprises through their Facebook page.

In the meantime, the store’s most valuable employee for nine years, Oz, a black Boxer, will be spreading some holiday cheer and reminding people to drink responsibly during the holiday season as customers come in to shop.