Elgin residents will soon be able to add beer and wine to their Walgreens shopping lists. The Elgin City Council approved amendments to the liquor code at its committee of the whole meeting Wednesday night granting licenses to the chain’s three Elgin stores.
Final approval for the sales will likely come at the next council meeting March 9.
Robert Elfinger, Walgreens corporate spokesman, said the chain initiated a concerted effort to put alcoholic beverages back into its stores in 2009 after years without them.
“We’re responding to customer demand,” Elfinger said. “Our customers want more of a one-stop shopping experience.”
There are roughly 5,000 Walgreens stores throughout the country selling packaged liquor. Elgin locations at 815 Summit St., 1700 Larkin Ave., and 600 Villa St., will soon be added to that list.
The city is creating a new class of liquor license to accommodate Walgreens’ needs.
The new license restricts Walgreens from selling single-serving beverages — a corporate policy on the part of the company anyway, Elfinger said. Outside signage advertising the beverages will not be permitted and the stores will only be able to sell beer and wine in limited areas.
Once the city council officially approves the licenses for Walgreens, Elfinger said residents can expect the new merchandise within a month.
