On July 1, 2025, Gary Leslie and his wife Edith turned over ownership of Auburn Discount Liquor, or ADL, to Auburn native Liwayway Taylor. Taylor, who has childhood memories of the liquor store’s popcorn machine, is excited to take over the business and has already started making some changes.
Growing up and attending Auburn Public Schools, Taylor’s Philipino heritage led her family to connect with Edith, and the family friendship resulted in many fond memories of ADL throughout Taylor’s childhood. Once finished with high school, Taylor enlisted in the Army Reserves, then shifted into the National Guard and has around 17 years of military time. After living in Omaha for a while, Taylor had her daughter and the two moved back to Auburn where her family and friends are located. While Taylor didn’t have much experience in retail business, she did have experience bar tending and took a 2-week course on liquors and mixers and the various flavors of alcohols. Gary noted that “Catering to what customers want is becoming a lost art.” Taylor seems to welcome the challenge, and hopes to both provide what customers enjoy as well as point them in the direction of new tastes.
Taylor had worked at ADL since May of 2025 and, now that she is in charge, she is already making changes and plans. “One thing I’m really excited for is to bring in new products,” she explained. One of these new products is a Japanese seltzer named Minus 196, which is made through
