HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) has issued an invitation for bids in its 13th restaurant license auction since the enactment of Act 39 in August 2016. This auction will offer 20 expired restaurant licenses across various counties, providing a significant opportunity for the restaurant industry in Pennsylvania.
The licenses available in this round are distributed across 20 counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bucks, Clarion, Delaware, Erie, Fayette, Huntingdon, Lawrence, Lehigh, Lycoming, McKean, Montgomery, Northampton, Pike, Potter, Sullivan, Washington, and Westmoreland.
Bids must be submitted by noon on Tuesday, October 1, and will be processed using a sealed bid method. The bids will be opened on Thursday, October 3, with winners announced shortly thereafter. The minimum bid for each license is set at $25,000. Each bid must include a bid surety of either $5,000 or 5% of the total bid amount—whichever is higher—to ensure serious and financially backed offers.
The highest responsive bidder for each license will earn the right to apply for the license within six months of the auction award. If the highest bidder fails to make payment within two weeks, the second-highest bidder will be given the opportunity to apply. All bid amounts will be held in escrow by the PLCB until the license application is approved.
PLCB Executive Director, Mike Dillon, remarked, “These auctions play a crucial role in revitalizing the restaurant sector by providing access to valuable licenses that can help new establishments thrive.”
The invitation for bids is accessible online, where interested parties can review the related solicitation files. For any inquiries, bidders must contact the PLCB via email by noon on Thursday, August 29. Responses will be posted on the Department of General Services e-marketplace by Wednesday, September 4.
Revenue from the previous 12 auctions totals $36.5 million, with an additional $1.5 million still in escrow pending license approvals. These auctions not only generate significant revenue for the state but also invigorate the restaurant industry by offering new licensing opportunities.
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