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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Ken Spencer, general manager of the Fine Wine and Good Spirit Shop in Wilkes-Barre Township Marketplace, said recent legislation extending Sunday hours of state liquor stores has made his customers happy.

Thanks to the legislation, which was signed by Gov. Tom Wolf earlier this year, Spencer’s store was open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the first time on Sunday. Previously, the store opened a noon and closed at 5 p.m.

“We had people here right at 11 o’clock,” he said. “They’re usually here waiting for us to open at noon anyway.”

In addition to extended hours at the Wilkes-Barre Township store, 94 stores statewide opened for the first time on Sunday. Locally, there are now six stores open on Sundays. Locations in Nanticoke, Conyngham, Dallas, Edwardsville and Wyoming, along with the store on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre, will be open on Sundays.

Stores are also now able sell lottery tickets.

“This is our first week selling them,” Spencer said. “People are buying them.”

Scott Gallup, of Shavertown, was at the Wilkes-Barre Township store on Sunday to buy wine.

“It’s a great idea and really convenient,” he said. “Sunday is less a family day now, and it’s nice to be able to get to the liquor store at any time.”

Joann Mateyu, of Mountain Top, was also stopping at the store to buy wine for her and her husband.

“Red for him, pink for me,” she said.

Mateyu, who was in the area shopping at nearby stores, said she thought that often when people are working until 5 p.m., they don’t really want to stop on the way home.

“Some people might want to stop on Sunday to shop for the week,” she said.

Spencer said the store’s placement next to other retail outlets keeps it busy.

“People go shopping at Walmart, and then they come over here,” he said.

Spencer said he believed that other liquor stores, especially those open for the first time on Sunday and not simply expanding their hours, might need several weeks to get the word out before their business really picks up.

“This is just the start,” he said. “More stores will be added.”

Pennsylvania Wine & Spirit stores that open on Sundays, such as this one in Wilkes-Barre Township, can now stay open rom 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_wine.jpg.optimal.jpgPennsylvania Wine & Spirit stores that open on Sundays, such as this one in Wilkes-Barre Township, can now stay open rom 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_14012754_10209631987373581_1406390477_o.jpg.optimal.jpg

By Geri Gibbons

[email protected]

Changes in Pennsylvania liquor rules

• Store hours

Ninety-four liquor stores in the state’s system will open for Sunday hours for the first time.

Hours will also expand in 188 stores that had previously opened from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Stores will now open at 11 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board also plans to add Sunday hours for 26 more stores on Sept. 4, which would expand the Sunday hours to half of its state-run stores. The board has complete discretion on store hoursof operation.

• Holidays

State liquor stores can now stay open on holidays.

The law also provides for Groundhog Day-specific regulations. Hotels and restaurants can sell liquor or beer starting at 7 a.m. on the holiday.

• Wine sales

About 11,000 businesses with restaurant or hotel licenses that currently sell beer to go can sell takeout wine. The expanded permit carries a $2,000 application fee.

Pizza shops and other licensed eating places licenses that sell beer to go can apply to upgrade to a restaurant license in all parts of the state except the city of Philadelphia. The conversion carries a $30,000 fee.

Wineries can also ship wine directly to customers after a $250 application fee.

• Beer sales

The sale of beer at convenience stores, which had previously begun as a result of court rulings, is now covered by state law.

• Lottery sales

Around 40 state liquor stores will now offer Pennsylvania Lottery tickets for sale. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has plans to expand that number to 170 by Sept. 9 and more than 300 by the fall.

• Airports

Airport restaurants with proper liquor licenses can begin selling alcoholic beverages two hours earlier, at 5 a.m. The approved legislation also allows restaurants to sell liquor, by the glass or open bottle, for fliers to drink anywhere in the terminal. This extends previously allowed beer and wine sales.

• Casinos

Casinos with the proper liquor license are allowed to sell drinks 24 hours a day, compared with 19 hours under the previous law. Any Casinos looking to take advantage of the law must pay a $1 million casino liquor license application fee.

Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons