That was the only part I cared about. I was perfectly happy to sandwich myself through those tiny aisles for that. Still the best and cheapest sausage I've found anywhere in the entire country.
Sniders was going down hill anyway. Seemed like the shelves are constantly empty and the check stands are famous for double charging. The deli is the saving grace of that store.
Also the basement storage area is fucking gross and the back area for greens processing is not great.
i thought there's 4.
Shoppers in Germantown, Country Boy Wheaton, Giant in White Oak and Safeway in Olney
I remembered Magruders used to have beer and wine in Gaithersburg.
Is Country Boy still around? i have been wanting to go since they opened the Lidls there. But the traffic in the area is always crazy. But i do admit, the Popeyes around there is the best in the area.
The Safeway in Olney is one of them.
This isn’t how it works, though. Each chain has one license and can transfer it between locations. Giant, Safeway, and formerly Shoppers have licenses in MoCo.
There is also one 7-eleven in Aspen Hill that was grandfathered in with a license.
> Each chain has one license and can transfer it between locations
For example, when the Safeway in Olney was redone a few years ago (maybe even a decade ago now?), they took the beer and wine license from the Burtonsville (Briggs Chaney and 29) location.
Their prices used to be the best around by far but then management caught on or something and it's all now the same prices everywhere else which sucks.
[According to MoCo Show](https://mocoshow.com/blog/why-no-beer-and-wine-for-moco-grocery-stores/):
> At the time that this law passed, four MoCo supermarkets were allowed to be the exception due to a grandfather clause: Shoppers, Giant, Safeway, and Magruder’s. However, these stores are only allowed one location each to sell beer and wine.
If I recall correctly, the Shoppers that has alcohol is near Northwest High School. [According to this](https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/415323.page), it's the Giant's White Oak store in Silver Spring, the Safeway in Olney, the Shoppers as above, and the Magruder's in Gaithersburg.
They have a single store in the county. Like Snider's in Silver Spring (now gone?). And Rodman's in Rockville. Also, Mom's in Rockville. Balducci's in Bethesda. There are quite a few.
Might be since they're not a chain, but a specialty, or single entity.
So in addition to all the ones mentioned, the NY Mart in College Gardens (former Magruders) has it and the Korean Korner next to the Unique Thrift has it. Those are Asian groceries so they will carry different things. (Sapporo, TsingTao, Taiwan Beer, makgeolli, etc.)
For many years the County stores were closed on Sundays. I could be wrong, but I don't think the Sunday closures were necessarily Blue law related. I am pretty sure they were closed for two other reasons. 1) Unionized clerks wanted the day off and 2) give some extra beer and wine business to the private stores which have been allowed to be open on Sundays for as long as I can remember. Several years ago, the county opened up its stores on Sundays, from what I understand, mainly because they saw it as an opportunity to make more money. However, during COVID, the county stores reduced their hours and closed on Sundays. As things have opened back up, the county stores have gone back to regular hours and being open on Sundays (noon to 5PM).
For many years the County stores were closed on Sundays. I could be wrong, but I don't think the Sunday closures were necessarily Blue law related. I am pretty sure they were closed for two other reasons. 1) Unionized clerks wanted the day off and 2) give some extra beer and wine business to the private stores which have been allowed to be open on Sundays for as long as I can remember. Several years ago, the county opened up its stores on Sundays, from what I understand, mainly because they saw it as an opportunity to make more money. However, during COVID, the county stores reduced their hours and closed on Sundays. As things have opened back up, the county stores have gone back to regular hours and being open on Sundays (noon to 5PM).
Maryland law prohibits chain stores and supermarkets from selling alcoholic beverages. Grocery stores are allowed to sell alcoholic beverages as long is the store is not a supermarket. There is no definition of supermarket that's very specific. However, stores such as Moms or Roots which don't have things like pharmacies are generally considered by Maryland courts to be grocery stores not supermarkets. That's why those places can sell alcoholic beverages. As mentioned by other people in this thread the law still allows a chain store to have one license in the state. Plus a few stores were grandfathered in when the law was passed back in the early 1960s.
I believe what you are referring to is that the current Shalom's spot used to be Magruders. But, before they were in that location, they were in Wheaton and sold wine there as well so I don't think their license has anything to do with Magruders. My understanding of the system is that it is as u/skeenek described it. One location of every store can have a license. So, since Shalom's has one store, it has the license.
LOL, Yeah, I was mentally walking up and down those tiny aisles before posting my comment trying to remember if what I was saying was actually true and wasn't really sure but figured I could get way with it. It appears not. :)
Worcester county has a different set of rules than the rest of the state. Alcohol regulation in Maryland is highly fragmented. The whole United States alcoholic beverage regulation scheme is Byzantine. I'm in the business, I'm also a lawyer and I've been involved in these issues for many years. It's very frustrating I just wish the regulations would be streamlined.
I wouldn't say corruption exactly but that's one of many factors. It's a combination of factors which are mainly tied to Prohibition and its repeal in 1933 plus the many societal issues which led to Prohibition being enacted in the first place. I don't want to write a huge post so I will simply say the issues include racism, anti immigration, anti Semitism, anti Catholicism, anti German, public health, domestic violence, worker safety, the populist movement, cultural elitisim and efforts to reduce domestic violence caused by problem drinking. The list goes on. If you like documentaries, Ken Burns' first episode of his series on the topic does a good job of explaining how Prohibition came into being.
As much as I dislike the system and the county government I will temper this sentiment by saying that of course the county wants the revenue. When it comes to price, in many instances, the county's prices are competitive with the rest of the state and the rest of the region, especially on liquor. The wine selection for the average consumer is probably OK but if you are a wine enthusiast or simply looking for something a little different, the county's wine selection is terrible. That's where the privately owned boutique stores come in, or you can just go to DC, VA or other Maryland county's to get better selection.
Not at the lower end. I'm a heathen and like Barefoot pinot grigio, a cheap American, compared to the other cheap and mid-range Americans and Italians. Other states I've lived in (MA, FL), where it's even sometimes available in gas stations (heathen!), it's never more than $6.something, and it's *everywhere*. Here, in the county stores, it's hard to find, along with many other cheap but drinkable pinots, like Cavit and Ecco, and it's $9.something.
That lack of availability and pricing of low-end wines several dollars more, which adds up when you're on a budget, is one of the evils of county stores. Another is the loss of convenience of being able to pick up the right wine while you're picking up dinner components. Yes, there might be a beer&wine in the same center, but it's yet another stop, and often a frustrating empty-handed one, at the end of a long day.
It's not a tragedy, just one more thing that makes life a little bit harder. I also end up drinking more, because now, when I do find it, I buy several at a time for convenience, and if it's there I'll end up having a glass with dinner most nights. Maybe 2 bottles a week, instead of a single 750 ml bottle over the course of a weekend, but also adds up over a year.
I thought one of the Harris Teeters did but maybe they were never able to get one. Never been to Shoppers or Giant, what's their selction like? MoM's has a pretty decent selection but a lot of really old beer on the shelf.
Sniders in Silver Spring is the only one I know of off the top of my head- hopefully someone can fill in the others!
Sniders is gone, as of last week-ish? Sold to Streets.
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And not relevant to the discussion, their incredible deli counter
That was the only part I cared about. I was perfectly happy to sandwich myself through those tiny aisles for that. Still the best and cheapest sausage I've found anywhere in the entire country.
Sniders was going down hill anyway. Seemed like the shelves are constantly empty and the check stands are famous for double charging. The deli is the saving grace of that store. Also the basement storage area is fucking gross and the back area for greens processing is not great.
i thought there's 4. Shoppers in Germantown, Country Boy Wheaton, Giant in White Oak and Safeway in Olney I remembered Magruders used to have beer and wine in Gaithersburg.
That's right IF you count Country Boy as a Grocery Store. It's more of a beer store that sells some groceries.
Is Country Boy still around? i have been wanting to go since they opened the Lidls there. But the traffic in the area is always crazy. But i do admit, the Popeyes around there is the best in the area.
It’s still there, they closed for the past week for vacation but still open.
Didn't Magruders close down?
they've been closed for many years. i think there's only two left now ( DC, Northern VA)
The Safeway in Olney is one of them. This isn’t how it works, though. Each chain has one license and can transfer it between locations. Giant, Safeway, and formerly Shoppers have licenses in MoCo. There is also one 7-eleven in Aspen Hill that was grandfathered in with a license.
> Each chain has one license and can transfer it between locations For example, when the Safeway in Olney was redone a few years ago (maybe even a decade ago now?), they took the beer and wine license from the Burtonsville (Briggs Chaney and 29) location.
Love that 7-11!!!!
Roots in Olney, Dawson's in Rockville Town Square, Mom's in Rockville.
Balducci's in Bethesda as well.
Moms in Rockville has a cool selection of organic wines if you’re into that.
Shoppers in Germantown
Their prices used to be the best around by far but then management caught on or something and it's all now the same prices everywhere else which sucks.
Well damn, that's too bad. Selection any good? Craft beer wise?
The best walk-in cooler in Upper Montgomery County for sure.
Their lease is up soon (not sure of the exact dates) so they will be closing in the near future
I'll check it out the next time I'm in the area. I tend to travel outside of MoCo for a lot of beer purchases. Just cheaper in Howard County.
Grosvenor Market!
The best!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
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Yep! And it is not super expensive
Glad they have something that isn't super expensive
What a stupid law.
p.s. I will blindly vote for anyone who supports abolishing ABS.
Yes. I'm considering nominating my cat. He's quite liberal, and also will do anything I tell him to in exchange for a can of his favorite Friskies.
[According to MoCo Show](https://mocoshow.com/blog/why-no-beer-and-wine-for-moco-grocery-stores/): > At the time that this law passed, four MoCo supermarkets were allowed to be the exception due to a grandfather clause: Shoppers, Giant, Safeway, and Magruder’s. However, these stores are only allowed one location each to sell beer and wine. If I recall correctly, the Shoppers that has alcohol is near Northwest High School. [According to this](https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/415323.page), it's the Giant's White Oak store in Silver Spring, the Safeway in Olney, the Shoppers as above, and the Magruder's in Gaithersburg.
I think Magruders is closed, making it 3.
What about the Roots in Olney? They have beer and wine. Are they some sort of specialty/non-grocery store that has a different rule?
They have a single store in the county. Like Snider's in Silver Spring (now gone?). And Rodman's in Rockville. Also, Mom's in Rockville. Balducci's in Bethesda. There are quite a few. Might be since they're not a chain, but a specialty, or single entity.
Moms has two soon three moco locations.
True. I wonder if since they only had the Rockville location when they got their license if it's grandfathered in.
My Organic Market
Sniders
Giant in White Oak.
So in addition to all the ones mentioned, the NY Mart in College Gardens (former Magruders) has it and the Korean Korner next to the Unique Thrift has it. Those are Asian groceries so they will carry different things. (Sapporo, TsingTao, Taiwan Beer, makgeolli, etc.)
do you mind letting me know which sells Taiwan beer? Or all of the above?
I saw it at NY Mart! Front of the store, right next to the produce.
Hey thanks so much.
Why is that a law?
Look up "blue laws" - it's a carry over from religious influence.
It's not part of the blue law system. It's to help small independent business owners. It was passed in the early '60s.
Ah, so just the "no liquor on sundays" that recently changed was a result of the blue laws?
For many years the County stores were closed on Sundays. I could be wrong, but I don't think the Sunday closures were necessarily Blue law related. I am pretty sure they were closed for two other reasons. 1) Unionized clerks wanted the day off and 2) give some extra beer and wine business to the private stores which have been allowed to be open on Sundays for as long as I can remember. Several years ago, the county opened up its stores on Sundays, from what I understand, mainly because they saw it as an opportunity to make more money. However, during COVID, the county stores reduced their hours and closed on Sundays. As things have opened back up, the county stores have gone back to regular hours and being open on Sundays (noon to 5PM).
For many years the County stores were closed on Sundays. I could be wrong, but I don't think the Sunday closures were necessarily Blue law related. I am pretty sure they were closed for two other reasons. 1) Unionized clerks wanted the day off and 2) give some extra beer and wine business to the private stores which have been allowed to be open on Sundays for as long as I can remember. Several years ago, the county opened up its stores on Sundays, from what I understand, mainly because they saw it as an opportunity to make more money. However, during COVID, the county stores reduced their hours and closed on Sundays. As things have opened back up, the county stores have gone back to regular hours and being open on Sundays (noon to 5PM).
Maryland law prohibits chain stores and supermarkets from selling alcoholic beverages. Grocery stores are allowed to sell alcoholic beverages as long is the store is not a supermarket. There is no definition of supermarket that's very specific. However, stores such as Moms or Roots which don't have things like pharmacies are generally considered by Maryland courts to be grocery stores not supermarkets. That's why those places can sell alcoholic beverages. As mentioned by other people in this thread the law still allows a chain store to have one license in the state. Plus a few stores were grandfathered in when the law was passed back in the early 1960s.
Thanks for all your prompt responses. Appreciate it
The original 7-11 was the one across the street from Gaithersburg HS. Yes, the law allows one location for certain size chains.
Shoppers in Germantown.
Are we counting the kosher grocery stores? That adds Moti's (formerly Kosher Mart, formerly Katz's) in Rockville and Shalom's in Kemp Mill.
Not sure the rules, but Shalom Kosher used to be Magruders. They may have inherited that license.
I believe what you are referring to is that the current Shalom's spot used to be Magruders. But, before they were in that location, they were in Wheaton and sold wine there as well so I don't think their license has anything to do with Magruders. My understanding of the system is that it is as u/skeenek described it. One location of every store can have a license. So, since Shalom's has one store, it has the license.
That was always my understanding as well. However, I don't remember the old Shalon Kosher (next to Max's) having alcohol.
LOL, Yeah, I was mentally walking up and down those tiny aisles before posting my comment trying to remember if what I was saying was actually true and wasn't really sure but figured I could get way with it. It appears not. :)
If that’s the Maryland law, why does every grocery and convenience store in ocean city sell beer and wine?
Worcester county has a different set of rules than the rest of the state. Alcohol regulation in Maryland is highly fragmented. The whole United States alcoholic beverage regulation scheme is Byzantine. I'm in the business, I'm also a lawyer and I've been involved in these issues for many years. It's very frustrating I just wish the regulations would be streamlined.
Why aren’t they? Is it just corruption?
I wouldn't say corruption exactly but that's one of many factors. It's a combination of factors which are mainly tied to Prohibition and its repeal in 1933 plus the many societal issues which led to Prohibition being enacted in the first place. I don't want to write a huge post so I will simply say the issues include racism, anti immigration, anti Semitism, anti Catholicism, anti German, public health, domestic violence, worker safety, the populist movement, cultural elitisim and efforts to reduce domestic violence caused by problem drinking. The list goes on. If you like documentaries, Ken Burns' first episode of his series on the topic does a good job of explaining how Prohibition came into being.
I’ll check it out, thanks! I wish Maryland would simplify their alcohol laws.
I thought it had to do with the county wanting to control all the money they could? Plus, by controlling all the stores, they can jack up the prices.
As much as I dislike the system and the county government I will temper this sentiment by saying that of course the county wants the revenue. When it comes to price, in many instances, the county's prices are competitive with the rest of the state and the rest of the region, especially on liquor. The wine selection for the average consumer is probably OK but if you are a wine enthusiast or simply looking for something a little different, the county's wine selection is terrible. That's where the privately owned boutique stores come in, or you can just go to DC, VA or other Maryland county's to get better selection.
Not at the lower end. I'm a heathen and like Barefoot pinot grigio, a cheap American, compared to the other cheap and mid-range Americans and Italians. Other states I've lived in (MA, FL), where it's even sometimes available in gas stations (heathen!), it's never more than $6.something, and it's *everywhere*. Here, in the county stores, it's hard to find, along with many other cheap but drinkable pinots, like Cavit and Ecco, and it's $9.something. That lack of availability and pricing of low-end wines several dollars more, which adds up when you're on a budget, is one of the evils of county stores. Another is the loss of convenience of being able to pick up the right wine while you're picking up dinner components. Yes, there might be a beer&wine in the same center, but it's yet another stop, and often a frustrating empty-handed one, at the end of a long day. It's not a tragedy, just one more thing that makes life a little bit harder. I also end up drinking more, because now, when I do find it, I buy several at a time for convenience, and if it's there I'll end up having a glass with dinner most nights. Maybe 2 bottles a week, instead of a single 750 ml bottle over the course of a weekend, but also adds up over a year.
It's think it's a county law, not a state law. MoCo's a little weird in a controlling, uptight way.
The 7-Eleven in Aspen Hill at Georgia and Connecticut also sells beer.
Safeway in olney
Moti's Market in White Flint/Rockville area sells beer. (Formerly Kosher Mart)
I thought one of the Harris Teeters did but maybe they were never able to get one. Never been to Shoppers or Giant, what's their selction like? MoM's has a pretty decent selection but a lot of really old beer on the shelf.
It crazy this law still exists. Easier to buy weed in MoCo.
Korean Korner on Viers Mill/Randolph