Published: October 22, 2009 11:51 pm      

BUSINESS IN BRIEF | 2 Giant Eagles are 1st in Pgh. to sell beer

WASHINGTON (Pa.) – Two Giant Eagle stores will be the first supermarkets in the Pittsburgh area allowed to sell beer.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board unanimously approved liquor licenses for a store in South Strabane, Washington County, and a store opening Nov. 5 in Robinson Township, Allegheny County.

Before the Giant Eagle licenses were approved Wednesday, 20 supermarkets have been allowed to sell beer in Pennsylvania.

The beer will be sold out of cafe areas in each store. Customers can buy the equivalent of two six-packs at the supermarkets. Beer distributors, who have fought supermarket efforts to sell beer, must sell beer by the case.

Giant Eagle wants to sell beer in 11 other western Pennsylvania stores. The closest one to Johnstown would be in Hempfield Township near Greensburg.

Food drive to assist area residents

Food for Families and Giant Eagle supermarkets are teaming up for the 10th annual Fall FoodShare to help the less fortunate.

Residents can help by

purchasing extra items when buying groceries at local Giant Eagle stores from Oct. 31 through Nov. 8, or make a cash donation at the register.

Volunteers are needed to help on weekends. To volunteer, go to www.pittsburghfoodbank.org/ volunteer to sign up for the time and location.

All food and funds collected through Fall FoodShare goes to residents in Cambria and Somerset counties.

Robe recall expanded amid fire deaths

WASHINGTON – Highly flammable women’s robes sold by Blair LLC of Warren County are now linked to nine deaths, and the company is expanding a recall to include more products imported from the Pakistani manufacturer.

Since June, Blair LLC of Warren, Pa., has received four more reports of deaths linked to the full length women’s chenille robes, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported. Earlier this year, there were reports of five deaths.

The recalled products were sold in Blair catalogs, online and at Blair stores in Warren, Grove City and Wilmington, Del., from July 2000 through April 2007.

For more information on the affected products and item numbers, consumers can call Blair at 877-392-7095 or visit http://www.blair.com/recall or http://www.cpsc.gov.