Acme at 19th and Oregon unveils beer section with frosted mugs
There’s finally an explanation for that orange liquor license application at the 19th and Oregon Acme that we reported about way back in October — it’s a beer cafe and six-pack shop, the first that we know of in the city.
. @PassyunkPost Acme's beer section/cafe has finally opened and its looking promising. //@acmemarkets pic.twitter.com/BUii2SZRQi
— Markus. (@MarkyBeee) September 9, 2014
@PassyunkPost @acmemarkets 20th and Oregon ave. Its pretty dope, tons of ipa's on deck.
— Markus. (@MarkyBeee) September 9, 2014
Dan Croce, Acme’s vice president of operations, told us they’re selling about 400 varieties of beer, of which you can buy up to two six packs at a time (just like takeout beer at a bar). Or you can have a seat at the new cafe with a frosted mug and grub from the grocery store or a small menu.
After a refurbishment this winter, the Acme at 10th and Reed neglected to include such an amenity. Croce said that store’s set-up made incorporating a cafe difficult because they need to put any beer cafe next to the deli, which is at the back. Acme also just launched a beer cafe in Flourtown.
One thing Croce cleared up for us was about the mention of outside seating on the liquor license. They don’t have it now but decided to include it in the application so they could have the option to do so in the future.
The move has gotten at least one good early review, from our faithful reader, @MarkyBeee:
@PassyunkPost I guess you could call it that. It has a few tables, wifi, and frosted mugs. Nice addition for sure.
— Markus. (@MarkyBeee) September 10, 2014
In the meantime, has anyone besides our helpful Twitter tipster seen the improvements to that shop?
interesting. can someone explain how Beer Heaven works on Columbus Ave? It sells six packs but doesn’t have a cafe or sell food (other than candy). Why don’t more of these open up or are they operating in a gray area?
@mjg – nothing gray about it. They have a retail take-out only license. There are already two others, the Bottle Shop and Bru. They’re not making money selling a billion 12 packs of Bud. It’s about smaller quantities of high dollar beers.
Actually, I’ve wondered about Beer Heaven too. The “Eating Place Retail Dispenser” license – type E, that most bottle shops operate under require you to still serve food and having seating for 30 – neither of which the Beer Heaven has. The Bottle Shop on Passyunk actually has a full restaurant liquor license (or so Ive heard), so they’re not limited by the E license restrictions. Looks like Acme did the same (got the full R license), but that seems to be a new trend…
I think Pho Saigon is the answer to your question.
Pho Saigon is a separate establishment with no connection between the two stores, so legally at least, there’s no way Pho Saigon would help them with the license requirements.
Are you positive it’s a seperate business? There’s an active license and an inactive license for Beer Heaven, both are straight R. The corporate names semm a little too familiar.
I mean, there is no physical connection between the stores – if they were sharing a liquor license, the two businesses would have to be in the same establishment. So considering there are is a wall and two separate entrances, they cannot share a license. That being said, if Beer Heaven has an active R license, then the whole seating for 30 seems like a moot point.
From reading the LCB page, it seems they wouldn’t have to share anything, in fact there must be a permanent barrier between the two, and seperate storage areas. My thought it was an “overkill” loophole.
It’s real, and it’s spectacular.
I agree!
Stopped by ACME before the game last night and picked up beer. I am actually pretty surprised how good the selection is. I was not expecting so much craft beer at an ACME. My favorite part was the large selection of half cases of seasonal variety packs available.
The only other person in line with me was buying a half case of Budwieser. I really hope the beer selection does not eventually go completely Anheuser, Miller, and Heineken.
I think the big question though is how are the prices? I would love to get a half case of a good craft beer, but I don’t want to pay the same amount that I would pay for a full case at a distributor!
Good point
So you would rather drive to Acme than purchase beer from your local neighborhood beer distributor??
The beer distributor is an eye sore.
So says you. Many people find red velvet wallpaper and gold glitter on the ceiling to be an “eye sore”….
Yeah that is an eye sore… I don’t have that, if thats what you’re implying. And if that is what your were implying and it was meant as an insult, thats really classy of ya. Hope you’re proud of that.
The prices for the seasonal half cases were around $20 – about roughly half of what it would cost for a full case at a distributor.
I like their selection! And they sell cigars too? This is such a come up. I don’t see how anybody could have any complaints. Other than some price points on some specific brands, its a pretty solid move by Acme.
badda-bing! pickup a crappy Peroni and a Blunt, and it’s sittin’ on the steps time, Joey Pots-n-Pans…