Bids for 21 licenses in 21 counties due October 31
Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) today issued an invitation for bids to award 21 expired restaurant licenses in the 11th license auction since Act 39 became effective in August 2016 – and the first such auction since the COVID-19 pandemic paused the practice in June 2020.
This auction includes one license in each of the following 21 counties: Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Cambria, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clinton, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Lebanon, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Schuylkill, Wayne, and York.
Bids for this restaurant license auction are due by noon Monday, Oct. 31. The 11th auction will again use a sealed bid process, which has so far resulted in winning bids on 292 licenses offered in previous auctions. Bids will be opened Wednesday, Nov. 2, and auction winners will be determined soon thereafter.
The minimum bid for each license is $25,000, and each bid must be accompanied by a bid surety of $5,000 or 5% of the total bid amount – whichever is higher – to avoid frivolous and underfunded bids.
The highest responsive bidder for each license will win the right to submit an application for the license to the PLCB within six months of auction award. If bid payment is not received within two weeks of auction award, the second-highest bidder will have the opportunity to apply for the license. Bids will be held in escrow by the PLCB, pending approval of the license application.
The Invitation for Bids is available online. Once on the page, scroll down to "Related Solicitation Files," and click the links to view.
Bidders with questions regarding this invitation for bids must submit inquiries via email to RA-LBLicenseAuction@pa.gov by noon Friday, Sept. 23. Questions and answers will be posted to the Department of General Services e-marketplace website by 3:00 PM Wednesday, Sept. 28.
Lists of winning bids from each of the 10 previous auctions are available on the license auction page of the PLCB website. Auction revenue recognized thus far from all previous auctions totals $32.9 million, while another $100,000 remains in escrow, pending license approvals.
The PLCB regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, operates 600 wine and spirits stores statewide, and licenses 20,000 alcohol producers, retailers, and handlers. The PLCB also works to reduce and prevent dangerous and underage drinking through partnerships with schools, community groups, and licensees. Taxes and store profits – totaling nearly $18.7 billion since the agency's inception – are returned to Pennsylvania's General Fund, which finances Pennsylvania's schools, health and human services programs, law enforcement, and public safety initiatives, among other important public services. The PLCB also provides financial support for the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, other state agencies, and local municipalities across the state. For more information about the PLCB, visit lcb.pa.gov.
MEDIA CONTACT: Shawn M. Kelly, 717.303.8522
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