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I've recently moved to Cherry Hill (from the UK) and want to replenish my stock of whisky that didn't make it with me across the Atlantic!
I am still getting used to the varying laws where most supermarkets don't (but some do) sell alcohol. Also I haven't figured out what is a good price here and what isn't. Any recommendations for good (price wise as well as selection) liquor stores?
Is there generally any price advantage to buying alcohol (spirits in particular) in DE rather than NJ? Although they have no sales tax it seems may have much higher duty? Also there seems to be a few items that are actually cheaper in PA despite their ass-backward liquor sales laws.
Had visions of driving to Delaware like I used to drive to France for cheaper wine when I lived in London, but it doesn't seem worth it.
I buy my wine out of state and have it shipped. There are some restrictions to what is allowed to be shipped depending on states/brand. When it comes down to it, it really depends on what you are buying. I found a liquor store in Trenton that is much cheaper than the local stores and even DE for the wine I purchased.
New Jersey had a law that alcohol could not be sold in supermarkets, so as a way around it, many supermarkets created separate stores adjacent to their supermarket to sell alcohol. Also, as a result, you have many stand alone liquor stores not affiliated with a supermarket.
I think this law was changed a few years ago, so now supermarkets can sell alcohol, as I have seen in a Wegman's in Bridgewater. However, any supermarket built before the law was changed will still have that separate store.
I don't think it's worth driving from Cherry Hill to DE to buy alcohol to save on sales taxes. You're going to be losing some of that advantage through gas and tolls.
Cherry Hill Wegman's has a good selection and price point. This is one of those stores separate from the main supermarket. Wine Legend on Route 70 very close to Wegman's would also work. Roger Wilco's Wine Warehouse in Voorhees is also very good. Also, any Canal's store (there are numerous ones) will also give you the selection and price you desire.
I think this law was changed a few years ago, so now supermarkets can sell alcohol, as I have seen in a Wegman's in Bridgewater. However, any supermarket built before the law was changed will still have that separate store.
There hasn't been any law change. It's not that supermarkets are prohibited by law from selling alcohol, it's that if they do want to sell alcohol they are required to obtain a Class C, or retail license. Licenses are an expensive commodity because each municipality is only allotted a certain amount based on population, so a supermarket would have to obtain one from another establishment giving it up (a liquor store moving or going out of business), and because of the scarcity of the licenses, they can command a large pricetag.
The Wegman's in Bridgewater sells alcohol via a store the same way the Wegman's in West Windsor does-via a physically connected, but separate licensed store that has to observe liquor store hours. If you walk into Wegman's at 10:30 p.m. you'll find the store open but the liquor store will be closed. There's a small independent supermarket in Caldwell called Jack's that has a liquor license and the product is sold in store, but they have a pull down security gate (like the ones used as stores in the mall) that goes down every night at 10:00 p.m. allowing the rest of the store to stay open but no alcohol sales to take place.
There hasn't been any law change. It's not that supermarkets are prohibited by law from selling alcohol, it's that if they do want to sell alcohol they are required to obtain a Class C, or retail license. Licenses are an expensive commodity because each municipality is only allotted a certain amount based on population, so a supermarket would have to obtain one from another establishment giving it up (a liquor store moving or going out of business), and because of the scarcity of the licenses, they can command a large pricetag.
The Wegman's in Bridgewater sells alcohol via a store the same way the Wegman's in West Windsor does-via a physically connected, but separate licensed store that has to observe liquor store hours. If you walk into Wegman's at 10:30 p.m. you'll find the store open but the liquor store will be closed. There's a small independent supermarket in Caldwell called Jack's that has a liquor license and the product is sold in store, but they have a pull down security gate (like the ones used as stores in the mall) that goes down every night at 10:00 p.m. allowing the rest of the store to stay open but no alcohol sales to take place.
When I went to the Wegman's in Bridgewater, they did have the liquor store connected to the main store, but they were also selling 6-packs of beer by the prepared food and seafood sections in the main store, and I was able to pay for them at the register in the main store with the rest of my order. That's why I thought the law had changed.
When I went to the Wegman's in Bridgewater, they did have the liquor store connected to the main store, but they were also selling 6-packs of beer by the prepared food and seafood sections in the main store, and I was able to pay for them at the register in the main store with the rest of my order. That's why I thought the law had changed.
Interesting...it appears Wegman's is bending the law in order to do this by creating separate holding companies for multiple licenses. See this article from 2010:
It's also of note that beer and wine can be paid for at the register, but not spirits. The package of bills referenced in the article were never passed however, as Lou Greenwald penned this in 2015:
I do drive to Delaware 3-4 times a year and stock up at Total Wine on Naamans Rd. While technically illegal, don't be afraid of doing it. The 1.75 liter bottles can be $3 cheaper plus no 7% sales tax. You can check the prices on their website by store location. TW has the best selection anywhere. In Cherry Hill Total Wine, Wegman's and Wine Legend all have reasonable prices.
I do drive to Delaware 3-4 times a year and stock up at Total Wine on Naamans Rd. While technically illegal, don't be afraid of doing it. The 1.75 liter bottles can be $3 cheaper plus no 7% sales tax. You can check the prices on their website by store location. TW has the best selection anywhere. In Cherry Hill Total Wine, Wegman's and Wine Legend all have reasonable prices.
I'll be passing through Delaware this summer on my way to D.C.-would it be worth buying beer there? How much cheaper is a good craft brew such that would go for $9-10 a six pack here?
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