176 More PA Liquor Stores Now Open As Region Moves To 'Yellow'

PENNSYLVANIA — More than 170 Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores across Pennsylvania will reopen Friday as additional counties move to the yellow phase of Gov. Tom Wolf's plan to reopen the state amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The 176 additional store openings will bring the number of stores across the state to 525.

Related: Philly Region Moves To Yellow Phase Friday: Here's What Changes

All stores will follow guidance for businesses issued by the Wolf Administration, which includes social distancing requirements and other best practices. Measures include a limit on the number of customers in a store at any time, with no more than 25 people (including employees and customers) in any location.

Plus, all customers and employees will be required to wear masks. Employees will be given masks, gloves, and opportunities to wash their hands to help keep stores safe.

Stores will have signs promoting social distancing. The signs will also direct customers to follow one-way patterns to avoid cross-traffic and encourage them to refrain from touching products unless they intend to buy them.

Store employees will perform enhanced and frequent cleaning and disinfecting, and store hours will be modified to ensure appropriate time for cleaning and restocking, according to the Liquor Control Board.

Additionally, each location was professionally sanitized before opening, and Plexiglas has been installed at registers to provide a physical barrier between employees and customers at checkout.

According to the Liquor Control Board, all stores in Pennsylvania were planning to open Friday, but due to looting and vandalism in the Philadelphia area that stemmed from protests, 31 stores in Philadelphia and one store in Delaware County remain closed.

However, 17 stores in Philadelphia will once again offer curbside pickup starting Friday.

Below are the number of stores opening in nine counties Friday:

• Berks — 14
• Bucks — 31
• Chester — 19
• Delaware — 17
• Lackawanna — 13
• Lancaster — 19
• Lehigh — 17
• Montgomery County — 33
• Northampton — 13

Stores reopening to limited public access will continue offering curbside pickup to the best of their ability, as they operate with limited staff, the Liquor Control Board said. Online orders will still be accepted here.

Additionally, the first hour each store is open daily will be reserved for customers at high risk for coronavirus infection and those 65 years and older. Customers are urged to observe this first hour restriction in the interest of protecting the health and safety of vulnerable community members, the Liquor Control Board said.

All sales are final, and no returns will be accepted until further notice, the agency notes.

Go here to find your closest Fine Wine & Good Spirits store that's open.