On Wednesday, the Upper Providence planning commission passed a motion to recommend that the board of supervisors grant conditional use to a proposed Wegmans on 600 Commerce Drive to operate 24 hours.

During their discussion, the planners questioned Wegmans' representatives whether the store would sell beer. The store will not sell it once it opens, though it could possibly choose to do so later on, according to a Wegmans representative.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board recently granted Wegmans approval to sell beer at six locations in the state: Bethlehem, Dickson City, Lower Nazareth, State College, Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport. Applications are pending for locations in Downingtown, Erie and Mechanicsburg.

According to a report on CBS 3's website, this approval does not technically mean that these are grocery stores selling beer. Since Wegmans has cafes on the premises they qualify for restaurant licenses, and can sell beer on site and for carry out. A Wegmans representative quoted in the report emphasized that "this is not a grocery store selling beer."

Oh, semantics. Regardless of whether this merely amounts to being able to buy a sixer of bud at over-priced restaurant costs, as we're already able to do at such establishments, it will still prove handy to be able to have the bagger place beer in the cart right next to the groceries, at least in my opinion.

Other (MANY other) states already sell beer and wine in grocery and convenience stores. Do you think that the ability to pick up beer, and, according to Wegmans representatives, possibly wine in the future is a positive thing? Would you like to see limits or more freedom on being able to purchase alcohol at the grocery store? Or are you content with the way things are now?

Later on,
Brian

Posted by
Brian McCarthy