Pa. Liquor Stores Offering Curbside Pickup At Some Locations As Stores Remain Closed During Coronavirus Outbreak
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Doors to liquor stores in Pennsylvania have been closed for weeks during the Coronavirus outbreak.
Since then, online sales have grown dramatically.
To handle this increase, starting today, people can place orders for curbside pickup.
Seventeen Allegheny County store locations will be offering this service. However, it's reportedly difficult to get through. One man who rode his motorcycle to the liquor store on McKintyre Square thought he could call and pick up soon after, but he just kept getting a busy signal.
KDKA's Lindsay Ward talked to the The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, they said this curbside pick-up is new to them and they're working things out as online orders have kept them very busy.
"It's been awhile since people have been able to stock up on liquor and wine so I guess them being able to stock back up," said Austin Huffman from Glenshaw. "I don't know if they planned on it being this long either."
According to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, they saw a 261% increase in online sales in just 15 days after they closed their physical stores on April 1.
They expect the number of orders to increase this week.
Online sales in 2018 and 2019 were around $5 million. As of April 1st, there have been over 23,000 orders totaling $2.1 million in sales.
With curbside pickup, this will allow the Liquor Control Board to meet more of the demand.
"I think I would probably engage in a curbside pickup myself. Yeah that sounds great. I think it's the right thing for them to do. If you can pick up food from a restaurant why not liquor?" said Masa Uicanin, a customer.
When it comes to curbside pickup, stores are taking a limited number of orders by phone. Pickup will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Saturday
Curbside pickup orders are for one order at a time. You can get a maximum of six bottles and have to pay with a credit card.
A list of stores accepting orders for curbside pickup can be found online.
As of right now, there are no plans to reopen physical stores.
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