ALTOONA (PRNewswire) – Sheetz makes Pennsylvania history Thursday as it announces that it will begin selling beer and malt-based coolers at its convenience restaurant in Altoona.
Sheetz president and CEO Stan Sheetz will make the announcement at a press conference at the convenience restaurant beginning at 1:30 p.m.
The retail chain Wednesday was officially granted a malt beverage license for the restaurant location by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The license allows carry out sales of beer in six-packs of 12-ounce or 16 ounce bottles or 12-packs of 10-ounce, 12-ounce or 16-ounce bottles. No 40-ounce individual bottles will be sold. Sheetz Inc. will not allow consumption of alcohol on the premises.
The Sheetz convenience restaurant is a unique destination. The 10,000 square-foot facility is more than double the size of a typical Sheetz store. It has a full espresso bar, indoor seating for 54 guests, and a drive thru.
The ability to sell beer in this special location is a long-awaited effort for Sheetz.
“We strive to provide customers with products and services that make their lives easier,” said Sheetz. “For our customers who buy beer, it is an added convenience for them to be able to purchase it at our restaurant when they come in for dinner or to pick up other items.”
While Sheetz already has licenses to sell alcohol in 107 of its stores in Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina, this is a first in Pennsylvania.
Sheetz is committed to being a responsible retailer of alcohol at all of its locations. Before a Sheetz employee can sell alcohol or tobacco, he or she must be trained and certified in several training programs. The Sheetz internal computer-based training provides intensive instruction on the responsible handling of beer and tobacco sales. Sheetz uses a third-party company called Heath Solutions to then come in and put employees through two additional training programs called Responsible Alcohol Management Program and Training for Intervention ProcedureS. These classes are designed to teach frontline retail and hospitality workers how to sell alcohol responsibly.
“The sale of age-restricted products is something that we take very seriously at Sheetz,” added Sheetz. “We have a long history and a lot of experience dealing with the sale of age-restricted products, including beer, and we have always been committed to being a responsible retailer. It will be no different at the Altoona Convenience Restaurant.”
Sheetz will hold one of its RAMP/TIPS training sessions after the press conference beginning at 3 p.m. and has opened that session to media and law enforcement officials to demonstrate to the local community how serious Sheetz is about being a responsible retailer of alcohol in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
GantDaily editor’s note: GantDaily plans to attend this afternoon’s press conference and training session and will provide readers with information from those events.
