Drop In COVID Cases Lets Virginia ABC Stores Return To Normal Operating Hours

VIRGINIA — Another coronavirus pandemic restriction is easing. Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control stores will be returning to normal operating hours on Tuesday, March 1, with all stores opening by 10 a.m. every day, apart from some stores that open later on Sundays.

Store closing times, which were not part of a month-long reduction in hours, will remain the same, Virginia ABC said Thursday. Closing times vary by store.

“With COVID-19 case numbers once again falling in Virginia, we are now able to return to our normal operating hours,” Travis Hill, CEO of Virginia ABC, said in a statement Thursday. “We truly appreciate our retail team’s dedication and flexibility throughout this pandemic, and we look forward to serving our customers with expanded hours soon.”

All Virginia ABC stores reduced operating hours on Jan. 24 due to staffing issues. The stores have been opening daily at noon in response to the spread of the omicron variant among employees.

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 state.

Virginia ABC operates 396 stores.

The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority reported revenue of $1.4 billion during the 2021 fiscal year that ended June 30, 2021, an increase of $163 million from the previous year.

The 2021 fiscal year revenues, a record for the Virginia ABC, included the sale of distilled spirits, wines and mixers, and the collection of license fees and other miscellaneous revenues.

Related: Virginia Liquor Store Sales Hit Record During COVID-19 Pandemic