When East State Street Kroger shoppers walk through aisles seven and eight Wednesday, they won’t find loaves of bread. Instead, the shelves will be stocked with high-proof liquor.
Kroger will start carrying the intoxicating beverages because of a liquor contract transfer from Lucky Dog Carry-Out & Liquor Agency, 309 W. Union St., to its store — a move approved in January by the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control.
But before the store can sell liquor to its customers, Liquor Control must conduct an audit of Lucky Dog’s inventory, which will leave Athens residents without a high-proof liquor provider March 14 and 15, said Amy McCormick, spokeswoman for the store.
Mark Meredith, owner of Lucky Dog, declined to comment.
Once the audit is complete, Kroger will be responsible for transporting the liquor to its 919 E. State St. location, said Matt Mullins, spokesman for Liquor Control.
“(Liquor Control officials) have to get the products on the shelf and get the store ready to operate,” Mullins said.
While the aisles are being stocked with high-proof liquor, the rest of Kroger will remain open, McCormick said.
McCormick could not comment on whether the store would be expanding to accommodate the increased inventory in the future.
Starting Wednesday, Kroger will sell liquor from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, McCormick added.
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