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South Jersey Shore Town Can't Get A Taker For A Liquor License

VENTNOR, N.J. (CBS) -- There are towns down the shore, like Ocean City, where you can't buy an alcoholic beverage. Now it appears there's a town where no one wants to sell you one.

It's not like Ventnor is a dry town. There are liquor stores within its boundaries, and you can find more than a few BYOB's.

But voters last year approved a referendum allowing for up to three liquor licenses to be awarded to an existing restaurant or a new facility.

Ventnor Mayor Beth Holtzman told KYW Newsradio that four different parties got the paperwork, but no one submitted an application by the June 23rd deadline.

"I think the timing was off for any business owner to reap benefits of the busy season, that being the summer season in a shore town," she said.

She suggests the process would have taken about 6 months from the town's initial decision to award the license through state inspections until the licensee could start selling alcohol.

There was also a minimum 100 thousand dollar bid to consider.

Holtzman expects to consult with the city solicitor and fellow commissioners before attempts to award a license again, probably during the off season.

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