RR Liquor and Cigars celebrates first anniversary with first Chamber Coffee of 2025

Tucked away in a non-descript strip mall setting on West Oklahoma Avenue, RR Liquor and Cigars is a hidden gem offering a wide range of liquor, beer, and cigars. The business opened Jan. 3, 2024, and celebrated its 1-year anniversary last Friday morning with the first Grant County Chamber of Commerce Chamber Coffee of 2025. Proprietors Chase and Sophia Rietcheck updated assembled business owners and assorted community members on the state of the business. Chamber Director Marieta Hauser congratulated the Rietchecks for their first year in business and for being a Chamber member.

“Actually, exactly today was a year, we took over on January 3 of last year,” said Chase Rietcheck. “It’s been a great year; it’s been really, really good. I want to thank everybody – community members – everybody, once again.”

Chase said his wife Sophia runs the place, adding, “I’m just here to lift the heavy stuff and do all of that. She’s the one who kind of does the books and keeps everything on our toes and everything aligned and getting us going that way,” Chase said. “It’s been a real good experience; it’s been a lot of fun. We’ve met a lot of people; we’ve gotten to talk to a lot of people. It’s nice to get out there in the community and do some stuff, we try to give back as much as we possibly can.”

Sophia Rietcheck said they were doing a giveaway for a Yeti and reminded everyone that the west side of the building is home to some vendors, and Chase said that side of the building is for rent.

“We’re still looking for someone to move in there,” he added.

•Other announcements included EMT training began this past Monday (Jan. 6), and EMS Director Jeff Baier announced that the National Weather Service weather radio in Ulysses is no longer active.

“So, your alert radios will not work in this region, Baier said.

Individuals on the east side of Grant County may still be able to hear the broadcast from Dodge City, but the rest of us will not hear weather alerts for the next 6-12 months. Baier said alerts can be accessed on the Emergency Management Facebook page and on any weather app you might have.

“We’ll do the best we can to keep up with the weather over this coming winter and spring,” Baier added. “In time, we’ll get a tower put back up.”

•Grant County Library continues to host Coats for Kids, so bring gently used and freshly washed coats, hats, jackets and gloves to the library to help out kids who need it.

•The Pink-Out basketball game is Jan. 31 at Ulysses High School and includes a silent auction (bidding begins Jan. 25) and a Survivors Walk. Last year’s Pink-Out raised $38,000.

•Legislative Coffees return Feb. 15, with coffees also planned for March 15 and April 19 at the Ulysses Fire Station on East Oklahoma Avenue.

State Representative Marty Long of Ulysses said the legislature convenes next week and invited anybody from Grant County to visit the state capitol if they happen to be in Topeka. He said the main items the legislature plans to tackle is the budget and tax relief.

•New Grant County Senior Center Director Nancy Borthwick invited the community to visit the senior center because they have quite a bit going on. The center has free coffee and tea all day if anybody wants to visit and Borthwick said lunch is offered during weekdays, just call the senior center by 10 a.m. so they can prepare enough food.

•The city of Ulysses will have a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 13 at Bear Creek Coffee to discuss plans for Frazier Park. There is also a USD 214 Board of Education meeting at the exact same time and date.

•Margaret Nightingale was announced as the new president of Grant County Bank, and the bank will play host to the Jan. 31 Chamber Coffee.

•There will not be a Chamber Coffee this Friday and Hauser invited any business owner that would like to host one to call the Chamber of Commerce.