St. George • Digby’s Market regular Jess Randall did not know what was in store the first time he spotted the Southern Spirits and Wine sign sprouting up next to the popular St. George supermarket last summer.
A one-stop shop for people who want to buy booze and groceries?
“I did a double-take when I first saw the sign,” the St. George resident admitted. “I had to pinch myself because drinkers in this area have dreamed about being able to grab a bottle of wine or spirits with their groceries instead of having to drive to one of the two liquor stores in town or the one out in the boonies in Hurricane.”
Since the Aug. 1 debut of Southern Spirits and Wine, situated next to Digby’s at 1951 Snow Canyon Pkwy., that dream has become a reality — sort of. It is still illegal for grocery stores in Utah to sell wine or liquor.
But the 1,700 square-foot wine and spirits store that co-owners Tim Rigby and Greg Daines operate is completely separate from Digby’s, which opened in April 2023. Their new business is St. George’s first package agency, a state-licensed store where shoppers can buy liquor, wine and higher alcohol-content beer.
Adulting in St. George
(Chris Caldwell | Special to The Tribune) Store owners Tim Rigby and Gregory Daines at Southern Spirits and Wine in St. George, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.
Rigby and Daines say most customers are delighted with their new store. They don’t feel like they are demonized or looked down on for buying liquor in a county where most residents are teetotaling members of Utah’s dominant faith.
“We often hear customers say, ‘We finally feel like a grown-up in Utah. We don’t have to go to a state liquor store. We can go to a normal store,’” Rigby said.
Southern Spirits and Wine is one of two type-two package agencies in Washington County, alongside Switchback Liquor Store in Springdale. The privately-owned stores operate under a contract with the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services in conjunction with another business.
Many of the more than 100 package agencies in Utah are standalone stores in rural towns too small to accommodate a regular state liquor store.
“Our goal is to ensure that we have a reasonable availability of alcoholic beverages in underserved areas that would otherwise not have that product available,” said DABS spokesperson Michelle Schmitt.
Southern Spirits and Wine, located in one of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas, seems to be an exception. Schmitt said state officials were impressed by the strong business plan Rigby and Daines presented with their application and decided that granting a license for a package store in the tourist hotspot, given its proximity to Zion National Park, was needed.
Digby’s, a merger of Rigby and Daines’ last names, is the major food sponsor and caterer to the Utah Wine Festival held each August in Cedar City. Since the business was already tied into the southern Utah wine scene, a guest at the 2024 festival suggested the owners should open a package agency.
“Everyone was laughing because we all figured that we would never be able to do that in Utah,” Rigby said.
Several months later, after Digby’s catering manager Heidi Orr heard over the radio that the state was accepting applications for package agencies, Rigby and Daines applied. After months of consulting with DABS and getting the requisite approvals from the Alcoholic Beverage Services Commission and St. George officials, the duo was given the go-ahead and inked a contract to operate the business.
Aside from Southern Spirits and Wine’s unique location, it stands out for several reasons. The co-owners’ emphasis on showcasing local products, as evidenced by the large “Better in Utah” sign on the wall above the checkout counters in Digby’s, has carried over to their spirits store.
“It’s our catalyst to bring in hyper-local products that are made and produced here in the St. George area and put them in one convenient location,” Daines said.
To that end, the owners carry 180 varieties of wine, including vino from four of six local wineries, more than 40 varieties of beer from breweries across the state, spirits from High West Distillery and Silver Reef Brewing Company, and numerous seltzers, just to name a few.
“Our store may not be super big,” Rigby said, “but we do pack a punch with the good variety we carry.”
Some like it cold
(Chris Caldwell | Special to The Tribune) Southern Spirits and Wine in St. George, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.
One factor that sets the business apart is that half of the store is refrigerated, something older and regular liquor outlets in Washington County lack. Southern Spirits and Wine is open longer, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, compared to 11 a.m. to either 7 p.m. or 10 p.m. at regular state stores.
Moreover, Rigby said, the business can sell individual bottles to customers who make special orders, as opposed to state liquor stores that require them to buy a full case. The staff can also forge more personal relationships with customers and cater to their needs. For instance, store manager Tammy Young is studying to become a sommelier to better help customers decide on wine and the appropriate pairings with the food they can buy at the market next door.
Other than that, Rigby said, package agencies have to abide by the same rules as their state counterparts. The state requires the business to sell its product at prices set by the state. What profit the store makes, he added, is based on volume. The state cuts the business a monthly check that is based on how many bottles it sells, which Rigby argues encourages over-consumption and should be changed.
One major drawback for package agencies is that the state contracts are only good for three years, at which point owners must reapply to get them renewed. That uncertainty, especially given the money owners invest in such stores, can be worrisome.
“We hope we will get reapproved, but there are no guarantees,” Rigby said.
Still, the business owners say they like their chances. They envision expanding the store and possibly opening package stores at other locations. In the meantime, they want to continue to offer their customers convenience along with quality potions.
“It shouldn’t be a hassle to buy food and wine,” Daines said. “We want to ensure people can do that in one location so they can get on with their day and enjoy life.”