Family Beer & Liquor, a family-owned beverage retailer that has been serving the area for nearly 75 years, is launching a summer-long customer appreciation campaign helping customers navigate significant summer travel disruptions caused by the upcoming Julien Dubuque Bridge closure scheduled to begin on June 15, 2026.

Rather than scaling back during the disruption, the newly rebranded Family Beer & Liquor is investing in the customer experience with giveaways, in-store tastings, updated digital resources, and expanded efforts to help customers plan ahead throughout the summer construction period.

“This bridge closure will directly impact many of the customers who visit us every week from Iowa,” said Josh Althaus, owner of Family Beer & Liquor. “At the same time, we’re using this moment as an opportunity to invest in the future of our business and enrich the overall customer shopping experience.”

Helping Customers Navigate Summer Delays

With detours expected to add additional travel time and create congestion during peak weekends, Family Beer & Liquor is encouraging customers to shop early, stock up in advance, and consolidate trips when possible. The store continues to offer a large selection of products for summer gatherings and events, including:

• Domestic, craft, and imported beer
• Wines for everyday occasions and entertaining
• Spirits, seltzers, and ready-to-drink beverages

Customers planning graduations, weddings, cookouts, lake weekends, and other summer events are encouraged to purchase ahead of major weekends to avoid last-minute travel delays.

Weekly Giveaways and Summer Tastings

To thank customers for continuing to shop during the bridge construction period, Family Beer & Liquor will host weekly in-store giveaways throughout the closure. Customers may enter by filling out a raffle form in-store each week, with no purchase necessary.

The store will also host regular in-store tastings throughout the summer, giving customers age 21 and older the opportunity to sample new products while shopping. Upcoming events, tastings, giveaway information, traffic updates, and detour resources will be posted regularly on the company’s newly redesigned website.

A New Look for a Longstanding Family Business

The rebrand marks a milestone moment for the family-owned company, aligning nearly 75 years of history with a refreshed identity focused on convenience, selection, and customer experience.

Despite the bridge closure, Family Beer & Liquor will remain open and accessible to customers traveling from Dubuque, East Dubuque, Galena, Platteville, southwest Wisconsin, and northwest Illinois.

“No matter the route, we’re here, we’re open, and we’re committed to making it worth the trip this summer,” Althaus said.

Customers can find the latest bridge updates, shopping tips, and event information at www.familybeer.com/bridgeclosure. For media inquiries, interviews or additional information, please contact: Audrey Roth, media contact for Family Beer & Liquor via au**********@***il.com or by calling (630) 441-0818.

About Family Beer & Liquor

Family Beer & Liquor has served the Dubuque and Tri-State area since 1952. Founded by the Althaus family and carried through generations, the business has grown from a neighborhood beer store into a regional destination for beer, wine, and spirits. Known for its extensive selection and strong customer service, Family Beer & Liquor continues to combine decades of tradition with a commitment to quality, value, and community.