ABC Store

If you are wondering if this is a sign for a store catering to folks who home school their children, or a store for people who want to buy letters of the alphabet for decorative purposes, you are dead wrong.  It is a liquor store.  The state of North Carolina is in the liquor business in a big way.  For example, "Liquor is sold only in state-run liquor stores. North Carolina – Beer and wine can be sold in supermarkets and convenience stores. Other spirits must be sold in liquor stores owned by local ABC boards. The State ABC Commission controls wholesale distribution and oversees local ABC boards."  The meaning of an ABC store is just as noted in the quote.  The big red dot is there since our town is so close to South Carolina, and in their state, liquor stores are distinguishable by a big red dot.  I think the ABC Commission for our county wants to be sure folks driving across the border can recognize the stores by the familiar symbol - red dot in SC.  I can remember when folks in SC referred to their liquor stores as Japanese airports as a link to the red dot used on WWII Japanese airplanes.  I find it a little strange that our state is in the liquor business rather than have the stores owned and operated by individuals or small businesses.