Shippensburg’s Sheetz, Inc. convenience store became the first in the corporation’s chain to sell wine in Pennsylvania today.

The store is able to sell takeout wine under the new state liquor law, which took effect Aug. 8, 2016. Act 39, known as the “ABC and Wine Privatization Act” expanded wine sales into grocery stores, restaurants and hotels.

The store will sell wine from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday–Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays. Customers are permitted to purchase up to four bottles in one visit.

The Sheetz, located at 359 East King St., sold the first bottle of wine this morning at 11 a.m. Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Mike Turzai was in attendance for a ceremony.

“The ceremony was very enlightening,” said Annette Hann, King Street Sheetz store manager. “It was really nice and exciting for everyone to be here.”

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced in 2014–15 that wine and liquor sales amounted for more than $2.2 billion in revenue. State tax revenue is expected to increase more than $14 million after the passage of Act 39, according to the Independent Fiscal Office of Pennsylvania.

“I hope that we are able to sell a lot of it,” Hann said.

Other Sheetz stores will start selling wine, Hann said, who expressed excitement for her store being the first to sell wine in Pennsylvania.

“I think it’s really awesome, and a great privilege,” she said.

Sheetz, which already sells beer, has previously made a push to sell alcohol in Pennsylvania. On June 15, 2009, Sheetz was given permission to sell beer for takeout under the condition that it was available to drink on site.

Sheetz stores originally won the right to sell beer because of a loophole in state law, classifying its store in Altoona as a restaurant, earning it an eating-place malt beverage license, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. That ruling was eventually challenged and Sheetz was prevented from selling beer for a few months.

The King Street Sheetz fought for the right to sell beer and eventually won, receiving approval from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The board decided to classify Sheetz as both a gas station and restaurant, reported PennLive.

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