Three men dressed in black burst into High Spirits on Bradwell Road, Lowton, just before closing time and threatened them with violence.
The gang plundered a quantity of cigarettes before jumping into a black BMW car which drove off at speed towards Church Lane.

Detectives today appealed for information about the robbery which took place shortly before 10pm on Tuesday.
There were two members of staff in the store, but no customers at the time of the raid.

Police have refused to disclose the nature of the weapons involved in the raid, but officers did say they were no firearms.
The victims were left badly shaken but unhurt. The value of the tobacco haul has yet to be estimated.

Det Sgt Clare Devlin of Wigan CID said: "This was a cowardly attack on defenceless shop assistants going about their work, which caused great distress.

"We would like to speak to anyone who saw suspicious behaviour outside the store, or in the Bradwell Road area, in the run-up to Tuesday evening's raid or perhaps the car making its getaway afterwards.
"Perhaps someone saw the vehicle being abandoned some time later and the intruders unmasked."

Descriptions of the assailants is vague, other than that the men were clad in black and wearing masks.
CCTV footage is being studied for further clues.

Anyone with information is asked to ring either Wigan CID on 0161856 5307 or the freephone Crimestoppers number, in confidence, on 0800 555111.