Virginia ABC stores cut operating hours

Due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) is reducing operating hours at all of its statewide retail locations starting Friday, March 27.

ABC’s 388 stores across the commonwealth will be open from noon to 7 p.m., seven days a week. ABC stores in the Peninsula Health District, which includes Hampton, Newport News,
Poquoson and Williamsburg, and the counties of James City and York, have already been operating on the reduced schedule. Customers will still be able to place online orders for store pickup.

“Given the expanding nature of the coronavirus to other areas of the commonwealth, after consulting with the Virginia Department of Health, we believe these adjustments to our business practices will reinforce measures already in place to keep everyone safe and mitigate the impact of this virus on our employees and customers,” said Virginia ABC CEO Travis Hill.

Cutting store operating hours will allow staff time to restock shelves and clean and disinfect store surfaces, in addition to allowing more flexibility with staffing, ABC said in a news release.

An ABC store near Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond remains closed for about the next two weeks after an employee’s roommate tested positive for COVID-19.