Whole Foods' Liquor License Transfer Approved in Upper St. Clair

The Upper St. Clair Township Board of Commissioners signed off on a plan on Monday night from the developers of a Whole Foods Market to be able to sell alcohol to customers—with limitations.

The grocery store, which the developers hope to open at the former CONSOL Energy Center site at 1800 Washington Rd., will have a restaurant and pub built into it, and that is the only place in the store where management will be able to sell alcohol.

Whole Foods representatives appeared before the township's commissioners on Monday to request approval of the liquor license transfer from the Green Castle Cafe in Braddock Borough. No objections to the request were made, and the commissioners granted it unanimously.

The store representatives said that customers would have access to the restaurant/pub from both inside of the grocery area and outside of the overall building. Alcoholic drinks must be consumed within the restaurant or pub area, but that includes an outdoor dining space that developers hope to build.

Take-out beer would be available, but a customer could only purchase up to two six-packs per visit. No alcohol will be displayed in the grocery area.

The hours for the grocery area are being considered as 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Whole Foods' Executive Construction Coordinator Mark Hughes said, but Hughes said that hours for the restaurant/pub have not yet been determined.

Hughes said that the restaurant/pub might occasionally stay open past 10 p.m., though, including, sometimes, until 1 a.m.

Anyone and everyone wishing to purchase alcohol at the store would have to show appropriate photo identification.