Liquor Control Board Holds First-Ever Liquor License Auction
by Kim Glovas
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The first-ever auction of liquor licenses has resulted in 37 licenses being issued to new outlets in Pennsylvania. And 10 of those licenses are in the Delaware Valley.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board held the auction to get expired licenses back in circulation.
The PLCB's Elizabeth Brassell says five out of the ten licenses issued in the five-county area went to Giant.
"Multiple licenses went to Giant Food Stores, multiple licenses went to Sheetz, Giant Eagle, Turkey Hill, so there's clearly an interest from the grocery and convenience chain sector in that additional convenience to sell beer to go," said Brassell.
She expects the chains to follow-up with a request for wine sales.
The high bidders now have six months to file a license application. 1200 licenses have expired since 2000 statewide, so Brassell says you can expect more auctions in the future.
