SUNBURY — Weis Markets customers in the city now have the option of buying beer at the supermarket.
The Weis store on North Fourth Street has become the fifth Weis in Pennsylvania offering beer. The others are in Tannersville, Schnecksville, Dallas and Clarks Summit.
After a huge amount of paperwork and some community protests, the local Weis opened its cafe, complete with coolers of beer, Friday.
“We work hard to help our customers save time and money,” said Dennis Curtin, director of public relations for Weis Markets. “Selling beer is just another convenience for our customers and helps save them an extra trip. Our goal is to empower our customers to pick and choose what works for them.”
A local church had filed an objection to the store’s beer plan, but the state Liquor Control Board ruled the church lacked standing to file the objection.
The First Baptist Church of Sunbury objected on the grounds that the store would be selling beer close to the Sunbury YMCA and other areas where children congregate.
“Our original intent was not to shut down the store’s cafe, we just wanted to make sure Weis was aware that we did not like what they were doing,” said the Rev. Darrin Hunt, pastor of the church.
Customers surveyed Monday morning were more receptive to the grocery store’s new product line.
“It’s great,” said Matthew Black, 31, of Sunbury. “All your stuff is in one place now, and it’s cheaper than the distributor. They should have done this a long time ago. This could replace going to the distributor for me.”
“It helps people out because the beer is cheap, and they don’t need to make an extra stop,” Sunbury resident, April Fritz, 32, said. “With kids, they will need to watch, that’s the only problem I can see happening.”
To get state permission to sell beer, the Weis store added the cafe to qualify for an eatery license. Along with providing customers a place to sit down and relax from shopping, the cafe must serve food and refreshments.
“We are committed to selling beer in a lawful way,” Curtin said. “It is a company rule that any employee working in the cafe must be at least 21 years old and go through a R.A.M.P. (Responsible Alcohol Management Training) course.”
The Weis cafe has 10 coolers holding the newly arrived suds and eight tables for customers to stay and enjoy a beer along with a bite to eat. The cafe is separated from the rest of the store by a metal railing and bars blocking access. The only way to enter from the grocery shopping area is by going through a narrow opening located next to the cashier.
Customers can buy beer in six or 12-packs, or by the bottle. Shoppers are limited to buying no more than 192 ounces at one time, the equivalent of 16 12-ounce cans.
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Beer sales roll out at Weis Market in Sunbury
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