Hours at Charlotte liquor stores have been cut. Here’s when and where to find a drink
Now that Mecklenburg County ABC stores will open later and close sooner because of pandemic-induced labor shortages, it might be tough to find a drink in the Charlotte area.
All 29 stores will be open at 12:30 p.m. instead of 10 a.m. Monday to Saturday, and close at 9 p.m. “due to the impact of COVID-19 exposures resulting in labor shortages,” the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board said in a news release.
The change will go into effect on Jan. 10 and last “until further notice,” the ABC board said.
Pandemic impacts local distilleries
Great Wagon Road Distilling Company owner Ollie Mulligan explained that supply chain issues caused by the pandemic have led to a drop in sales since March 2020.
“There wasn’t so much of a liquor shortage as a logistics shortage,” said Mulligan, referring to the empty shelves at many ABC stores in Mecklenburg County. “They just had a logistical nightmare on their hands, because they’re short-staffed.”
Sales of alcohol in bars and restaurants plummeted globally in 2020, according to a study from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The study also found that online alcohol sales – which are illegal in North Carolina – increased by up to 234%.
Mulligan said the buyers he works with have estimated it could take up to two years before the liquor industry returns to the way it was before the pandemic.
With just a handful of full-time employees, the labor shortage affecting the restaurant, hospitality and entertainment industries has not hindered his business, Mulligan said.
“We’ve got eight full-time employees and they all make good money and they’re all happy,” he said.
Great Wagon, along with many other bars and restaurants in the area, has remained open throughout most of the pandemic. Here is a list of distilleries, bars and restaurants that sell liquor after hours:
Distilleries
Great Wagon Road Distilling Company
610 Anderson St., Charlotte
Hours: 4 to 11 p.m. Tuesday- Friday; noon to 11 p.m. on Saturdays; noon-8 p.m. on Sundays
Six specialty brands of whiskey, vodka and gin can be purchased online.
6148 Brookshire Blvd., Charlotte
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
1500 River Dr., Suite 100, Belmont
Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 12:30-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Bars and restaurants
330 N. Tryon St., Charlotte
Hours: 4 to 11 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday; 4 p.m. to midnight. Thursday-Saturday
127 W. Trade St., Charlotte
Hours: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-2 a.m. on Sundays
200 N. Tryon St., Charlotte
Hours: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Sundays
200 N. Tryon St., Charlotte
Hours: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays; noon to 2 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays
312 N. Myers St., #3041, Charlotte
Hours: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily
1115 N. Brevard St., Charlotte
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
1411-A, S. Tryon St., Charlotte
Hours: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday-Friday; 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturdays; noon to 2 a.m. Sundays
1221 The Plaza, Charlotte
Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays; 10 a.m to 10 p.m. on Sundays
332 W. Bland St., Suite E., Charlotte
Hours: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday; noon to 2 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays
280 N. Tryon St., Charlotte
Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Wednesdays; 11 a.m. to midnight on Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays; 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturdays; 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.
424 E. 36th St., Unit 2, Charlotte
Hours: 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday-Wednesday.
201 W. Trade St., Charlotte
Hours: 5:30 p.m to midnight Wednesdays and Thursdays; 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays; 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturdays; 4 to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
The Cotton Room at Belfast Mill
144 Brevard Ct., Suite B, Charlotte
Hours: 5 p.m. to midnight Monday-Thursday; 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; 1 p.m. to midnight on Sundays.
200 E. Bland St., Charlotte
Hours: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
200 W. Tremont Ave., #101, Charlotte
Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight daily.
1300 S. Tryon St., Charlotte
Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
204 North Kitchen and Cocktails
204 N. Tryon St., Charlotte
Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 4 to 11 p.m. Fridays; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to11 p.m. on Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.
Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails
1320 S. Church St., Suite 400, Charlotte
Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 5 p.m. to midnight on Fridays; 10:30 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays; 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.
127 N. Tryon St., Suite D, Charlotte
Hours: 6:30 to 10 a.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 6:30 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 11 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays; 4 to 11 p.m. on Thursdays; 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturdays; 4 to 10 p.m. on Sundays.
1423 S. Tryon St., Charlotte.
Hours: 4 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursdays; 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturdays; 11 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.
220 E. Trade St., Suite 2200, Charlotte.
Hours: 5 p.m. to midnight Tuesday-Friday; 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
124 E. Stonewall St., Charlotte
Hours: 3 to 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 3 p.m. to midnight on Fridays; 11 a.m. to midnight Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
222 S. Church St., Charlotte
Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.
555 S. McDowell St., Charlotte.
Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 4 p.m. to 12 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
118 W. 5th St., Charlotte, NC
Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 a.m on Saturdays and Sundays.
1531 Central Ave., Charlotte
Hours: 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays; 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
1933 South Blvd., Charlotte.
Hours: 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays; 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
200 E. Bland St., Charlotte
Hours: 4 p.m. to midnight. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; noon to midnight on Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.
1616 Camden Rd., Suite 150, Charlotte
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.
Dilworth: 300 E. Tremont Ave., Charlotte
Southpark: 4905 Ashley Park Ln., Suite J, Charlotte
Dilworth hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 4 to 11 p.m. on Fridays; 1 to 11 p.m. on Saturdays.
Southpark hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays; 3 to 11 p.m. on Saturdays; 3 to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
This story was originally published January 7, 2022 at 5:08 PM.