PLCB Names Top Bidders in First Excess Restaurant License Auction | Liquor Control Board | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Harrisburg - Following validation of 54 bids received by the June 15 deadline for the first auction in which licenses can be transferred across county lines by winning bidders, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) has announced highest bids and bidders for 10 licenses on the PLCB restaurant license auction web page.

Act 56 of 2025 changed the Pennsylvania Liquor Code to require the PLCB to hold an "excess auction" at least once a year. Excess auctions include expired restaurant liquor licenses that were previously put up for auction but that received no bids. This second, excess auction opportunity allows those licenses that previously received no bids to be bid on again and transferred across county lines for an additional fee. Standard restaurant license auctions require licenses to remain in the county in which they expired.

This is also the 15th license auction since auctions were authorized by Act 39 of 2016.

Top bids ranged from $105,000 to $557,777, and the average top bid in the auction was $284,394.50.

Every license received at least one bid, and the number of validated bids received for each of the 10 licenses ranged from two to 10.

The highest responsive bidder for each license, upon notification of auction award, will have up to 30 days to remit bid payment to the PLCB and up to six months to submit an application for the license. If bid payment is not received timely, the second-highest bidder will have the opportunity to apply for the license.

This auction included one license in each of the following 10 counties: Armstrong, Cambria, Cameron, Greene, Northumberland, Somerset, Sullivan, Warren, Washington, and Westmoreland.

In this auction, every highest bidder proposed to transfer the license into a different county, and the counties to be transferred into included Bucks, Chester (two licenses), Cumberland (two licenses), Lancaster, Monroe, Montgomery, and York (two licenses). Each highest bidder must also pay, in addition to the winning bid payment, a fee of $50,000 to transfer the license into the new county.

The PLCB anticipates holding a standard restaurant license before the end of the year.

The PLCB regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, operates Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores statewide, and licenses more than 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. For more information about the PLCB, visit pa.gov/lcb.

Fine Wine & Good Spirits is Pennsylvania's go-to destination for wine, spirits, and ready-to-drink cocktails, as well as in-store tastings and events. With more than 560 stores, 13 licensee service centers and a robust online shopping experience at FWGS.com, Fine Wine & Good Spirits offers a wide selection of products for customers to discover new favorites, find trusted classics, and explore exclusive, limited-release selections. Fine Wine & Good Spirits and the PLCB contribute to the state's economy by returning taxes and profits - nearly $23.5 billion since the agency's inception - to Pennsylvania's General Fund, financing Pennsylvania's schools, health and human services programs, law enforcement, and public safety and community initiatives. 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.

Every purchase made at a Fine Wine & Good Spirits store or at FWGS.com helps strengthen Pennsylvania, supporting nearly 6,000 employees and more than 2,500 communities across the commonwealth.

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