Costco in King of Prussia, Montgomery County, is preparing to sell beer and wine, drawing attention from local shoppers. Photos recently shared by customers in online communities show a new alcohol sales area and beer being stocked on shelves. Costco has not officially announced an opening date, but reports of substantial progress have raised expectations that sales may begin soon, ahead of the holiday shopping season.
The move is notable because of Pennsylvania’s complex alcohol regulations. Costco began pursuing an alcohol license for the King of Prussia store earlier this year, seeking to transfer the liquor license from Legal Sea Foods, the restaurant at King of Prussia Mall that closed last year. The store is at 201 Allendale Road in Upper Merion Township. Costco is also pursuing expanded alcohol sales at several Pennsylvania locations, including Warminster in Bucks County and Cranberry Township near Pittsburgh.
Shoppers expecting the broad selection available at Costco stores in other states may be disappointed. Pennsylvania retailers need separate licensing to sell beer and wine, and distilled spirits such as whiskey and vodka generally must be purchased at authorized outlets such as state-run Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores. Under a typical restaurant license used for retail takeout sales, purchases are limited to 192 ounces of beer and three liters of wine per transaction. State distribution rules also leave the availability of Kirkland Signature wine uncertain, and Kirkland whiskey and other spirits are not expected to be included.
Many shoppers have compared the store with Costco in Christiana, Delaware. Delaware has no sales tax, and that Costco sells beer, wine and a range of spirits, including Kirkland products. Some customers said they would continue shopping in Delaware even after sales begin in King of Prussia, considering prices and selection. However, separate legal restrictions may apply to bringing alcohol purchased in Delaware into Pennsylvania.
The King of Prussia location’s longstanding parking difficulties also came up in discussions. Customers have complained about difficulty finding spaces and lengthy waits to enter and leave the busy store. Some said expanding parking was more urgent than adding alcohol, and worried that the new department could worsen crowding on weekends and during the holiday season.
Even so, the new sales area is expected to provide added convenience. Members buying groceries and household goods in bulk would be able to pick up beer and wine without visiting another retailer. The actual selection and price competitiveness will become clear after sales begin. Costco has not yet announced an exact starting date, and local shoppers are watching to see whether the department will open before the year-end holidays.
