Pennsylvania to reopen some liquor stores for curbside sales

Pennsylvanians can buy a limited amount of liquor or wine from state stores starting Monday, marking their first chance to do so in more than a month because of the coronavirus pandemic-spurred lockdown.

A limited number of stores across the state will take orders by phone and provide curbside pickup between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

“We ask you to remain patient if you don’t get through by phone right away,” state officials said in an update online. “We’re optimistic our capacity to fulfill orders through our website and curbside pickup will increase in the coming weeks.”

The announcement follows weeks of concerns over lengthy delays preventing many from logging onto the state’s online alcohol purchase portal, and reports of Pennsylvanians crossing into bordering states and hoarding liquor, with many counties in West Virginia and Ohio now prohibiting sales to out-of-state residents.

Twenty-one stores are set to open in Allegheny County, including at The Waterworks shopping plaza along Freeport Road near Aspinwall, the Waterfront plaza in Homestead and on Fifth Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh. Stores also will be open in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood, Monroeville, Robinson, Bridgeville, Sewickley and the North Hills.

Armstrong County will have one open store, at Franklin Village Shopping Center in East Franklin.

In Butler County, two stores will open — one along Route 19 at Cranberry Mall in Cranberry, the other in Seven Fields.

Four state stores in Westmoreland County will be taking orders — at Westmoreland Mall along Route 30, Norwin Hills Shopping Center on Norwin Avenue, on Third Street in Youngwood and on Blue Spruce Way in Murrysville.

Four also will open in a Washington County, including the store at Donaldson’s Crossroads Shopping Center on Washington Road in McMurray.

Western Pa. curbside liquor stores

The state’s Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores closed to customers March 17 as part of Gov. Tom Wolf’s lockdown to thwart the spread of covid-19.

The stores that are opening next week will take a “limited number of orders by phone” until reaching their maximum daily limits, officials said.

Pickup orders are limited to one order of no more than six bottles. Individuals may place only one order per store per day.

Purchases must be paid for using credit cards, and there will be a no-return policy in place.

For a list of stores accepting orders starting Monday, April 20, visit the state liquor control board’s website or click here.