Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Local liquor stores advertised their new Sunday hours. Cash Wise and Hy-Vee will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Liquor Mart will limit its hours to 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

NEW ULM — On July 2, Minnesota residents will be able to purchase alcohol from liquor stores on Sunday legally and all three New Ulm liquor stores will be open.

Last March Gov. Mark Dayton signed a bill lifting the Prohibition-era restriction. Minnesota was one of a dozen states banning liquor stores from opening on Sunday. After years of growing resistance to the law it has been repealed.

The elimination of the Sunday Blue Law was not a surprise to many in the business. Mike Esser, owner of Liquor Mart said he knew this was coming eventually.

Esser decided to keep his store open on Sunday since the other businesses are doing the same. He is uncertain if the change in laws will lead to greater sales in the long run.

Part of the reason for the law change is Minnesota is surrounded by states without Sunday liquor bans. People living near the border could travel out of state to purchase alcohol instead of buying locally, but New Ulm is too far from the border to be impacted Esser said.

In addition, he expects Saturday sales will go down. Often people who needed alcohol for an event on Sunday would purchase on Saturday. Esser expects to see a dip on Saturday sales as Sunday sales become the norm.

Esser does expect to be busy this Sunday. He said many people will come in for the novelty of buying alcohol on Sunday, but believes the numbers to be even higher since it is a holiday weekend.

“It will be hard to tell if sales are affected because of the 4th,” Esser said.

Ironically, because of the timing of the law Liquor Mart will be open Sunday, but not on Tuesday. Liquor Mart has always closed its doors on the 4th of July holiday.

Esser said the true test of Sunday liquor sales will be in the fall once the football season and Sunday game day begins.

The law allows liquor stores in Minnesota the option to operate between the hours of 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday. In New Ulm both Hy-Vee and Cash Wise will keep their liquor departments open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Liquor Mart on N. Broadway will also be open, but has limited its hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.