Local Wawa Seeks Approval To Start Selling Beer
By Syma Chowdhry
CONCORD TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) -- Controversy is "brewing" in Delaware County over beer sales.
A Wawa store wants to start selling beer, but owners of mom and pop stores are afraid it could hurt their business.
The convenience store on Naamans Creek Road in Concord Township is trying to get approval to sell 6-packs of beer.
Some grocery stores like Whole Foods and Acme, which are just up the road, are allowed to sell beer to customers.
Wawa is asking to follow suit at a township hearing Tuesday evening scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Concord Township building.
Customers Eyewitness News spoke with like the idea of getting a snack or gas, and leaving with a cold one.
Customer Chris Bryant said, "I wouldn't have to go here or go there to go get what I need to get."
Jim Litwa, another Wawa customer, added, "Convenience yeah, but prices matter also."
Some customers, Debbie Hastlings, hope this could be a start for Pennsylvania to loosen its grip when it comes beer sales. She said,"I think it is kind of silly at this point and time. We don't need the strict rules anymore."
Eyewitness News reached out to Township officials, but they say they cannot comment until after the hearing.
Some customers hope the store doesn't get approval. Jill Kozar explained, "There is a beer store right up the street that is a smaller business and I really don't see any need for it here."
Brewers Outlet has been in Brian Mutschler's family for more than 30 years. "Pretty much everybody is going to be selling beer in Pennsylvania real soon," he said. "That is all we have is beer, without beer we are out of business."
He is afraid if more grocery and convenience stores sell beer, it could put him out of business.
Mutschler plans to speak with township officials, hoping they turn down Wawa's application. "They've never sold any alcohol, so why now would they need to sell beer to stay in business," he explained.
Wawa provided this statement to Eyewitness News:
"We are always interested in exploring additional ways to add value to our customers' experience. Currently, Wawa sells beer in our stores located in Virginia and Florida. Our current request for one store in Concordville, PA is similar to applications for the sale of beer recently approved for other retailers in that area. All sales and operations will be in accordance with applicable State and local laws and regulations and conditions imposed during the approval process. As a responsible retailer, we will obtain all certifications necessary to ensure our store associates have the resources and training they need to fully comply with all laws regarding the sale of alcohol.
For now, we view this as a single store product expansion. We may look to expand the offering depending on our experience at this store and the licensing requirements in the communities and states we serve."
