BELLEVUE, Ky. — The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has had ripple effects across the world, including here in Kentucky.
The war has businesses taking a stand against Russian-made products in solidarity with Ukraine. At the Party Source in Bellevue, shoppers won’t be finding any vodka made in Russia on store shelves anytime soon.
What You Need To Know
- The Party Source in Bellevue pulled Russian-made vodka off store shelve
- Store’s general manager says it wanted to stand with Ukraine
- The store is also promoting Ukrainian vodka and donating the proceeds to charity
- The move is also in line with an executive order the mayor made
The store is huge, both in its actual size and in popularity, having become a staple for Northern Kentucky shoppers looking for their drink of choice.
General manager Micah Dennison said he loves being a part of it.
“It doesn’t feel like coming into work when you’re in an environment like this,” he said. “We don’t sell things that people have to have. These are luxury items. They’re purchasing them for celebrations, for gifts, for a good time. It’s very engaging. It’s fun.”
For Dennison, Party Source is more than a liquor store—it’s a destination.
“[It’s] a full on experience to come here,” he said. “Our original tagline was everything but the guest.”
Taking a stand on world issues may not always be what’s best for business, but Dennison said it was the right thing to do in pulling both Russian Standard and Green Mark from store shelves.
Dennison said those are the only two Russian-made vodkas sold in Kentucky. Russian vodka in the United States amounts to less than 2% of overall vodka sales.
“With pulling these bottles, it’s more of a symbolic move to make, or a symbolic gesture, because the sales have already happened. It’s already been purchased,” he said.
The move was also in line with an executive order made by Bellevue Mayor Charlie Cleves
Besides pulling the Russian vodkas, Dennison said the store also reached out to its supplier for Khor, the only Ukrainian vodka it sells.
“We bought everything they had. We decided that we would donate all of the profits on these sales to Matthew 25 Ministries,” Dennison said. “We’ve always been charitable in our community, and feel a certain sense of responsibility, so for us this was the right decision.”
Dennison said most if not all of those funds will go toward the charity’s efforts in Ukraine. Even before promoting it, he said Kohr sales were going up.
Darlene Goodrich and her friend couldn’t pass up the opportunity to buy a bottle.
“She saw that Ukrainian sign. And she had vodka already at home, but she wanted to go ahead and get some to be supportive,” Goodrich said. “I know that all the vodka’s already been purchased. So I mean it’s sad, but it’s a great thing to still in symbolism be supportive of what our neighbors are going through.”
She said she likes to see companies take stands that she aligns with.
“I actually make decisions about where I shop based on exactly what corporate activities there are, or what their beliefs are. And that’s one of the things I’ve liked about the Party Source,” she said.
Dennison said the store will consider bringing back the Russian vodkas and donating all the proceeds to charity as well.