Virginia ABC stores to begin opening at noon Jan. 24

All 395 Virginia ABC stores will begin opening daily at noon Jan. 24, the agency announced Thursday.

The change is designed to enable ABC’s limited workforce to better serve customers, agency officials said in a press release. Many stores currently open before noon, but increasingly, employees have been affected by COVID-19, causing staffing issues at many stores.

“Like other retailers affected by pandemic-related staffing shortages, we are modifying our store hours to reduce the need to close stores because of employee quarantines,” said CEO Travis Hill. “Opening at noon meets the needs of the majority of our customers, most of whom prefer to shop in the afternoon.”

As an alternative to in-store shopping, customers can place orders online at abc.virginia.gov for curbside pickup or home delivery in most parts of the state.