Monthly rent approaching $10,000 is to blame for the summer closure of State Street Liquor Store after thirty years at 340 S. State, according to owner Robert Kesto. Renovation of the building is underway. Kesto says he still owns the liquor license and is considering nearby sites to serve his student-heavy customer base. Across the Diag, he still runs Champions Party Store at the base of University Towers on South U. Kesto acknowledges that shoppers pay for the campus area convenience with higher prices, but points out that overhead costs don’t take a break when students do.
