The Sheetz corporation’s long pursuit of a license to sell beer at its Center Township store cost the company a steep price, but the transaction enables it to finally move forward with its latest chain-wide plan for its Pennsylvania outlets.
Former Whitey’s Peetza owner Steve White says he sold Sheetz the license for $100,000, which is well above the going rate in Indiana County. Last year, Sheetz successfully bid on two other licenses in Indiana County, paying $76,500 for each.
Sheetz had attempted to get a transfer of a license from Creekside to the Center Township store, but because that would entail moving a license from one municipality to another, state rules mandated approval from the township supervisors. Center Township’s supervisors rejected the bid and the issue went to county court, where Sheetz challenged the procedures by which the decision was made. It was still in court this week when the sale of the Whitey’s license brought the case to a close.
Sheetz has not said how soon it will begin selling beer at the Homer City-area store, bit it’s expected to be soon, perhaps as early as next month or in August.
