Alabama ABC Board temporarily closing 41 stores as COVID-19 cases rise

(WKRG) — Because of rising numbers of COVID-19 in Alabama, the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is closing 41 stores across the state to ensure the safety and welfare of employees and customers.

“Closing some of our stores will provide the greatest amount of employee/customer protection, while ensuring maximum productivity and efficiency,” said ABC Board Administrator Mac Gipson. “Our primary concern is the health and well-being of our employees and patrons.”

This round of temporary closures impacts about 25 percent of stores, which prompted us to ask about crowding concerns with customers potentially flocking to the locations that will remain open.

“Well, I don’t say there’s not any concern,” said Dean Argo, the Board’s communications manager. “I would say allowing us to shift the employees from those 41 stores to other stores, they’ll be able to handle any additional customers that may choose to change their stores.” He said the decision to close was more of an effort to accommodate employees who needed to stay home due to various reasons related to COVID-19, rather than a direct effort to stop the spread.

Last March, the Board closed 78 retail locations and made operational and staffing changes in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Stores reopened as infection numbers improved. However, recent changes implemented by the education and business communities, as well as an increase in the number of virus exposures and infections, have made staffing 175 retail stores challenging at best. Stores scheduled to close will cease operations at the end of business, Saturday, Jan. 16, and are expected to reopen in late February or early March.

79 employees assigned to “closing” stores will be temporarily re-assigned to “open” stores in their area.

“Our goal here is to operate as efficiently and safely as possible, while providing our customers with the premier service they’ve come to expect,” Gipson said.

The following locations are temporarily closing:

The following locations are open:

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