Liquor store reopens after armed robbery

GRANT JEFFERIES

Scott Kirshe, owner of Coastal Liquors at 11161 SR 70 East, describes a robbery that occurred last Friday night when a man struck his employee and escaped with a large amount of cash. GRANT JEFFERIES/gjefferies@bradenton.com.

11161 State Road 70 East

By RICHARD DYMOND

rdymond@bradenton.com

LAKEWOOD RANCH --

Same thing for their 18-month-old Coastal Liquor in Brandon.

But the couple's four-month old Coastal Liquor in the new Lakewood Walk Plaza on the northwest corner of State Road 70 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard was hit last week, just after the regular Friday night wine-tasting event.

Armed with a silver handgun and wearing a yellow, hooded sweatshirt, the gunman ran off with the day's receipts of nearly $1,000, Scott Kirshe said.

Kirshe closed the store for five days, from the time of the robbery until 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

One of the reasons the store was closed was that none of the employees were comfortable working there, Kirshe said.

"It's tough to get someone to work when a gun is pulled in your face," Kirshe said.

Kirshe now plans to close the store at 8 p.m., rather than 10 p.m., which has made his employees more comfortable.

The Friday night wine-tastings will continue.

"Safety is in numbers," Kirshe said. "Until the plaza builds out, we'll have to close early."

Two days ago, Kirshe sent an e-mail to members of the Coastal Wine Club explaining why the State Road 70 store was closed.

He received dozens of return e-mails along with phone calls and even a bouquet of flowers.

"The overall sentiment was, 'We're glad you are open. Don't let this get you down,' " Kirshe said.

One of Kirshe's neighboring businesses, Smoothie King, may now have to take a look at its 10 p.m. closing time, co-owner Eric Summerall said Thursday.

"It makes me more nervous," Summerall said. "If they are closing early, we might have to."

The gunman came into Coastal Liquor when it was empty and pulled out a pistol, Kirshe said.

When the clerk was slow in responding, the gunman whacked him in the face with his hand, causing the clerk to fall backwards, Kirshe said.

The clerk recovered and began emptying bills from the register, but not fast enough for the gunman's taste, leading to another blow to the clerk's face.

"He was taking the money out slowly, hoping someone would walk by," Kirshe said. "We have a panic button, but we teach our employees not to push it until they are out of the store. When you think about it, what good could happen if the police come with guns drawn and a suspect is in there with my clerk?"

Four minutes after entering the store, the gunman ran out, with his pocket stuffed. A few twenty dollar bills floated out and were later found in nearby bushes, Kirshe said.

Manatee County Sheriff's Office responded with seven police cars, dogs and helicopters, Kirshe said.

The medium-build suspect, in his early 30s with a scruffy, short, full beard, made his getaway in a four-door black Neon and has not yet been found, said Dave Bristow, sheriff's office spokesman.

"He got about $1,000," Kirshe said. "But is that worth armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon? That's 30 years."

Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 708-7917.

Coastal Liquors is now closing two hours earlier