The state Liquor Control Board yesterday opened bidding to award fifty expired restaurant licenses in its fourth auction since a new law became effective last year. One of the fifty licenses is in Indiana County. Among our neighbors, there are also single licenses available in Armstrong, Clearfield, Jefferson, and Westmoreland counties.
In Indiana County, the one available license is in West Wheatfield Township. It’s the expired license once owned by Joe’s Ginmill in Robinson, which was known for years as Fork’s Tavern. That license expired in 2004.
The bids are due by November 9th. They’ll opened a week later and awarded shortly after. The minimum bid is $25,000, plus a $5,000 bid surety to avoid frivolous and underfunded bids. All bids will be placed in escrow while the bidders are investigated to ensure eligibility to hold a liquor license. Winning bidders will have the right to submit an application for the license to the PLCB within six months.
If you have questions, here is a link to the state’s auction website: RA-LBLicenseAuction@pa.gov
