Pennsylvania law requires grocery applicants to serve food with seating for 30 customers and to maintain a separate cash register to allow for beer purchases. The Weis supermarket in Lititz has both and now their beer business is open, but it does come with some restrictions.
For example you can only buy 2 six packs at a time, but just because there’s a restriction doesn’t mean it’s slowing down sales. One customer said “I think I’ll probably drink more beer.” Another said he’ll “get a beer for dessert after lunch.”
Customers have been buying beer at the Lititz Weis since Thursday when the beer cafe opened. Store manager John Sullivan said it’s just the beginning. “As opportunities present themselves in Pennsylvania it is of course something that we’ll look into purchasing more liquor licenses and opening more six pack to go sections in our stores” said Sullivan.
Beer distributors in other areas like the Beer Barn in York County aren’t discouraged by the possibility of more beer cafes. Beer Barn manager Tiffany Snedegar said “usually you save your money when you buy in bulk. Just like everything else so most people buy in cases when you’re having friends or family over you need more than a six pack.”
For customers looking for convenience, the availability is a welcome one. Customer Carroll McCampbell said “I believe that it saves me a trip in that regard because I don’t have to make a special trip for just beer.”