60 more Pennsylvania liquor stores resuming in-store public access

Sixty more Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores in counties in Pennsylvania’s yellow phase of covid-19 mitigation will resume limited in-store public access on Friday, the state Liquor Control Board announced Thursday.

When that happens, a total of 349 stores in 56 counties will be allowing limited in-store public access. That amounts to more than half of the stores statewide.

Stores offering public access and curbside pickup only are identified on the store locator website.

As of Friday, 71 stores in Allegheny County and 23 in Westmoreland County will be among the 349 offering limited in-store public access, according to the board. Also offering limited in-store public access are three stores in Armstrong, nine in Beaver, nine in Butler, seven in Fayette, two in Greene, four in Indiana, four in Lawrence, five in Mercer, four in Somerset and 10 in Washington.

Mitigation efforts in stores will include limiting the number of employees and customers allowed inside, requiring face masks and social distancing, and enhanced and frequent cleaning and disinfecting.

Store hours will be changed to allow time for cleaning and restocking, and all sales will be final with no returns accepted until further notice.

The first hour each store is open each day will be reserved for customers at high risk for covid-19, including those age 65 and older.

Before opening to the public, each store was professionally sanitized and plexiglass was installed at registers. Employees are being given masks, gloves and frequent opportunities to wash hands.

Stores reopening to limited public access will continue to offer curbside pickup, the board said.

Statewide, there have been 950,000 curbside pickup sales worth $65.3 million, including sales tax, from April 20 through Thursday, the board said citing preliminary figures.

Orders will also be accepted online at finewineandgoodspirits.com.

The board said there were more than 204,000 online orders totaling $19.6 million, excluding sales tax, from April 1 through Thursday. That is more than five times the total online sales in the 2018-19 fiscal year, which saw 39,000 sales worth $5 million from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.