Story posted Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Walgreens Liquor Sales Sought In Park Ridge
By CRAIG ADAMS Journal & Topics Reporter
Using a change in the Park Ridge liquor ordinance approved in September 2009, the two Walgreens drug stores in the city applied for licenses to sell liquor at the businesses.
Walgreens District Manager Steve DiLullo appeared before the Liquor License Commission on Monday, Jan. 18, to explain the request.
"It's going to take up about 2% of our actual shelf space," he said. He added the sales would be limited to beer and wine in six-packs or cases. "Not like in the old days; we're not going to be having the pints or the minis or the 40-ounce cans," he assured commissioners.
Although the sales area would be within an aisle of the stores, he explained the section would have lockable screens on each side of the cooler and the cooler door itself would also be controlled by a lock during hours liquor cannot be sold. The city prohibits sale in a drug store between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
In addition, the cash register would be programmed so that alcohol could not be rung up during those hours, he said. There would also be security devices on the wine bottles to prevent theft.
DiLullo acknowledged the business stopped selling alcohol several years ago, but consumer demand has led to the reinstatement of the product.
Commissioners voted unanimously to approve licenses for the stores at 800 W. Devon Ave. and 910 W. Touhy Ave.
Last year, CVS Pharmacy, now open at 2648 Dempster St., requested and received a change to the liquor ordinance to allow the sale in drug stores.
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