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24 Express gets Virginia ABC license to ship wine statewide

24 Express gets Virginia ABC license to ship wine statewide

Rule Changes Alexandria, VA local

The 40-year-old Del Ray convenience store cleared for direct-to-consumer wine sales

2 days ago: Virginia ABC issues wine shipping license

Overview

Updated 2 hours ago

24 Express Food Store, a Del Ray convenience store known for its fried chicken, received a Virginia ABC In State Shipper license on September 8, 2026. The license permits the store to ship wine directly to customers anywhere in Virginia.

The store has operated at 4007 Mount Vernon Avenue since 1986. It already sells groceries and hot food through Grubhub, DoorDash, and Seamless. The new license adds a wine-shipping channel to that mix.

Why it matters

A 40-year-old Alexandria neighborhood store can now ship wine statewide, adding a delivery channel to its fried-chicken and grocery business.

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Key Indicators

40
Years in operation
Store has operated continuously since 1986
In State Shipper
ABC license type
Virginia license permitting direct wine shipment to consumers
2026-09-08
License issuance date
Virginia ABC licensee lookup confirmed the record

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Organizations Involved

Timeline

1986 September 2026

2 events Latest: 2 days ago
  1. Virginia ABC issues wine shipping license

    Latest Regulatory

    In State Shipper license clears 24 Express to ship wine directly to Virginia customers.

  2. 24 Express opens in Del Ray

    Milestone

    Store founded at 4007 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1934

Virginia becomes a control state for alcohol (1934)

After Prohibition ended, Virginia established the Alcoholic Beverage Control system, making the state the sole wholesaler and retailer of distilled spirits.

Then

Private distilleries lost direct sales access, and the ABC board began licensing all alcohol sales.

Now

Virginia's control model remains in place, with licensed businesses handling beer and wine while spirits flow through state stores.

Why this matters now

The licensing framework that governs 24 Express's new permit traces to this control-state model, which still shapes who can sell and ship alcohol in Virginia.

2018

Virginia direct wine shipping law (2018)

Virginia changed its alcohol laws to let wineries ship wine directly to consumers, creating the In State Shipper license category. Previously, direct shipping was heavily restricted.

Then

In-state wineries gained a new sales channel, and regulators issued the license to eligible producers.

Now

The license became a common route for direct-to-consumer wine sales in Virginia, which otherwise remains a control state for distilled spirits.

Why this matters now

The In State Shipper license 24 Express received on September 8, 2026, is the same license category created by this 2018 change, now held by a convenience store rather than a winery.

Sources

(4)