Local liquor stores push back opening hours due to staffing issues

Update: As of Tuesday, March 1, all Virginia ABC stories will return to normal operating hours. More information available on the Virginia ABC website. 

If you were hoping to warm up during frigid temperatures by stocking up on alcoholic beverages, you may need to alter your shopping hours.

Effective Monday Jan. 24, Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Authority (ABC) stores across the state are delaying daily opening hours until noon, according to a press release from the authority. COVID-19’s impact on the ABC workforce is largely to blame.

“Like other retailers affected by pandemic-related staffing shortages, we are modifying our store hours to reduce the need to close stores because of employee quarantines,” said Virginia ABC CEO Travis Hill. “Opening at noon meets the needs of the majority of our customers, most of whom prefer to shop in the afternoon.”

A spokeswoman from Virginia ABC said the new later opening time is temporary, though there's no indication of how long the change will last.

Virginia ABC stores also have been impacted by supply chain issues, affecting the availability of certain products. Shelves at the ABC’s Engleside Plaza Shopping Center location along Richmond Highway were fairly well stocked as of Thursday evening, though a few gaps were present among the distilled spirits. A staff member from the ABC’s Belle View Shopping Center location reported similar shortages among select products.

Shelves at Engleside Plaza ABC store

As an alternative to in-store shopping, customers can place orders online at www.abc.virginia.gov for curbside pickup or home delivery in nearly all areas of the commonwealth, according to Virginia ABC. Other ABC locations along the Richmond Highway corridor include Mount Vernon Square Shopping Center and Huntington Gateway.