Sheetz Scoops Up Pennsylvania Liquor Licenses

ALTOONA, Pa. — Sheetz Inc. will buy 15 Pennsylvania restaurant liquor licenses for nearly $2 million after winning them in an auction, reported the Altoona Mirror. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) put the licenses up for auction after they were revoked or expired.

A total of 37 restaurant liquor licenses were auctioned off in late October. The auction was the first of its kind and followed the implementation of Act 39, the Adult Beverage Convenience and Wine Privatization Act. The legislation requires the PLCB to auction expired, non-renewed and revoked restaurant licenses.

Approximately 1,200 licenses fit the criteria for auction, but only a small number were put up at the October auction.

"This first auction was intended as somewhat of a test," said PLCB spokeswoman Elizabeth Brassell. "I don't know that we had any real expectations."

Sheetz bid $1,931,000 in total for 15 stores in eight counties. Its highest individual bid was $307,500 in Centre County.

After auction winners make their payments, they have six months to file a liquor license application with the PLCB.

No dates have been set for future restaurant liquor license auctions.

Altoona-based Sheetz Inc. operates more than 535 store locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina.

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