Not everyone sees the Spirits billboards as a welcome addition to the landscape.
"Any time you see addiction billboards like that, it's a red flag, it's disturbing," said Pastor Ken Hughes of Westside Community United Methodist Church, which sits on U.S. 127 in Moreland, just up the road from a double-decker Spirits sign.
Hughes and other members of his congregation are involved with Isaiah House Ministries, which treats those suffering from alcohol and drug abuse. Isaiah House recently moved its facility for men from Lincoln County to Willisburg.
"It's unfortunate considering how many people are killed on this road and the drugs that are such a problem in this area," Hughes said. "These billboards obviously aren't helping anything, and they are right here in our backyard."
No negative comments received
Farmer said she has not received any negative responses about the billboards but has gotten a few calls from people in the area wondering when the store will open.
Owners of the 20,000-square-foot store hope to draw customers with discounted prices and a wide selection of beer, wine and spirits, along with party supplies like specialty foods and decorations.
Farmer said they hope to build business, in part, by targeting drinkers who have to drive a ways to stock up on alcoholic beverages.
Many of those in this area regularly travel U.S. 27 and U.S. 127, she said.
"A lot of people from Somerset, Casey County, Stanford, Garrard County and Danville come to Lexington for a ball game or to shop or whatever, and we are definitely keeping them in mind for everything we do in our store," Farmer said.
