PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Members of Pennsylvania's new “Stop-and-Go Legislative Task Force” began their work by dropping in on three Southwest Philadelphia stores that neighbors called nuisances.
Legislators stopped unannounced at all three convenience stores. It wasn't a raid, but a fact-finding mission for the state task force investigating how to regulate the shops, known as “stop-and-go's.” The three stores sell snacks from behind a plexiglass wall — and they also sell alcohol by the bottle, or even by the cup.
Salon owner Latasha Sampson calls one near her business on Woodland Avenue a problem. “It's a nuisance,” she said. “People don't want to walk past here, the guys are in here hanging out.”
State Rep. Jordan Harris says the stores often don't have kitchens or seating, but they have restaurant liquor licenses.
“We have far too many of them in our neighborhoods where people are quite honestly coming in and literally using a restaurant license for an establishment that is actually not a restaurant,” Harris said.
“Sometimes they’re selling it in Dixie cup shots, in the same place where kids get candy,” added state Sen. Sharif Street.
Former City Council President Darrell Clarke, who currently serves on the Pa. Liquor Control Board, is also on the task force and participated in the visits. He said the stores have a noticeable impact on the quality of life in their communities.
“I think you can see what we all saw when we pulled up. It's just not a good situation for our neighborhoods,” he said.
“In many of our communities,” added Harris, “these are also the places where a lot of shootings take place. A lot of unsavory activities in our neighborhood are taking place at these establishments.”
The tour was organized by state Sen. Anthony Williams, who leads the task force. He didn't attend the tour but said in a statement that he was committed to finding practical solutions.