A MAJOR liquor store chain has returned to its original hours of operation in the face of profit loss.
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Authority announced on August 30 that it would close 155 of its stores two hours earlier.
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However, the liquor store chain changed its mind when it realized it was hurting sales.
The liquor store chain said this decision “was driven by an analysis of store sales during the last two hours of the day.”
In an interview with local outlet Virginia Mercury, ABC spokesperson Pat Kane said, “reduced hours affect sales” and “therefore, Virginia ABC suspended the changes effective September 22, reverting to the prior business hours.”
ABC did not publish a public announcement confirming they were reverting to normal store hours.
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The smallest store sales growth of any month in the fiscal year was recorded in September 2023, according to a presentation made during a meeting of the ABC Board on Wednesday.
Sales increased by just 0.1% that month instead of 4.9% on average for the fiscal year.
ABC spokesperson Jeff Caldwell told Virginia Mercury that this decision was made to address "financial challenges" the board addressed.
The board was also candid in addressing that it may not make its goal for the amount of profits it will transfer to the state this fiscal year.
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Former ABC Assistant Director of Retail Operations Thomas Aruanno filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the authority.
He claimed that ABC officials changed store hours based on incomplete information, even though they were informed that early closures would "cost the organization millions and millions of dollars."
In his lawsuit, Aruanno claims ABC over half a million dollars in the nine days the liquor store chain cut back their hours.
The stores will close at 7 p.m. or 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. Sunday.
ABC has nearly 400 stores throughout Virginia.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to ABC for comment.
