For years now there have been rumors circulating that Wegman’s is interested in a spot in Lancaster County, and why not. Economically this may be one of the most dynamic communities in the commonwealth; there’s money to be made here (which is why all those other national retailers keep coming). Though I’ve also been told that there’s a grand total of *one* location the company is interested in, that being the now-cornfield off Fruitville Pike, across from Red Rose Commons.
That site will be developed, by the way. Maybe not within the year or within five years, but at some point - it’s probably the most desirable site in all of the county, from a developer’s standpoint; along a retail corridor, right next to the on-and-off of Route 30. Expect a huge fight over it, as usual.
In any event, what got me thinking about this was the Era’s editorial this afternoon, in which we’re warned that Wegman’s is already open in other Pennsylvania communities and is about to start selling - gasp! - beer. To wit, the chain has asked, and will get, permission from the LCB to sell beer in “cafes” in six stores - Bethlehem, Dickson City, Lower Nazareth, State College, Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport. It also has applications to sell beer in three other stores, Downingtown, Erie and Mechanicsburg.
The editorial is the usual quasi-Prohibitionist thing, making dark noises about how booze will wind up “in the wrong hands” should the Soviet-esque state controls be relaxed in the least bit. Count me doubtful; but in any event, this does indeed seem like a back door into bringing beer to Pennsylvania supermarkets. Build up your little “cafe” next door, and there you go. It’s an obvious precursor to the day, and it’s coming, where you’ll be able to buy beer from the grocery store shelves themselves - as is the case in many, many other states in the union, few of which are struggling to yank the beer bottles out of the “wrong hands.”
In any event, it would probably be better if the legislature itself, rather than permitting these little dribs and drabs, actually accepted the fact that one day the barriers will be broken down, so they might as well plan for that; might as well come up with the design themselves for how beer and other liquor will be sold in Pennsylvania without the Draconian governmental controls. Because there are so many other players now - the distributors, the tavern owners, the liquor-store union - that everyone’s going to have to a bone or 12 thrown their way; but the move should begin, because the day is coming whether the legislature actually makes provision for it or not. Better, then, to have a broader plan, rather than letting the dribs and drabs be the plan.
