After Severe Damage in Philadelphia Looting, Liquor Stores Will Close for Now

All 48 state liquor stores in Philadelphia were closed Wednesday after rioting targeted several of them on Tuesday.

At least 18 state-run liquor stores in the city were broken into on Tuesday night.

No employees were hurt but “some were understandably shaken,” said liquor board spokesperson Shawn Kelly.

One of the liquor stores was reportedly broken into again on Wednesday night.

The stores were “closed in the interest of employee safety and while we assess the damage and loss that occurred. We will reopen stores when it is safe to do so and when the damage is repaired,” Kelly said.

One store in suburban Cheltenham also closed Wednesday. 

No decision on whether the stores would reopen on Thursday had been made, WPVI-TV reported.

Philadelphia police reported that 52 teenagers and adults were arrested after the looting in multiple stores in the city’s main business district on Tuesday.

They ranged in age from 14 to 37, according to the Philadelphia Police Department. Most were charged with burglary, while one person was charged with stealing a car from a U-Haul location.  Several, including three children, face riot charges.

Police estimated between 100 and 200 people had looted the stores.  Among them were Apple, Foot Locker, Lululemon, Aldi, Rite Aide, Game Stop, Auto Zone, T-Mobile, Walgreens and Family Dollar.

The flash mob allegedly was organized on social media.

Police said seven cars also were stolen from a lot in the northeast during the looting. One of them was recovered as of Wednesday afternoon.

Six businesses in a single retail corridor of North Philadelphia were looted, including three pharmacies, a hair salon, a tax preparation company and a phone store, according to the North 22nd Street Business Corridor, a business group.

With the Associated Press