After an objection from Bald Eagle Area School District, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board refused a request by Sheetz to transfer a restaurant liquor license to its Wingate store. Now the Altoona-based convenience store chain has gone to court seeking to have that denial overturned.
Sheetz filed a petition in Centre County Court on Monday requesting that the PLCB’s order be reversed and the liquor license transfer granted for the 820 S. Eagle Valley Rd. store to be able to sell beer and wine.
According to the filing, Sheetz submitted an application to transfer the liquor license from the now-closed Brenda’s Tavern in Boggs Township to the Wingate store. Jeffrey Miles, superintendent of Bald Eagle Area School District, subsequently filed a protest to the PLCB on behalf of Wingate Elementary, which is located at 751 S. Eagle Valley Rd., next to the Sheetz.
A hearing was held before a PLCB examiner in August, with witnesses for the PLCB Bureau of Licensing, Sheetz and Wingate Elementary. On Sept. 26, PLCB issued an order refusing the transfer but did not provide a reason. According to the order, an opinion would be issued if an appeal was filed.
Sheetz has not yet filed an appeal, but attorneys for the company wrote in the petition that the court has the authority to hear an appeal and determine, independently of the PLCB order, if the transfer should be granted.
PLCB has previously approved restaurant liquor licenses for 98 Sheetz stores in Pennsylvania to sell beer and wine, primarily for take-out.
‘Until this appeal…the PLCB has never refused a liquor license transfer to Sheetz, even though several Sheetz stores with a liquor license are located nearby restrictive institutions, such as churches and schools,’ according to the petition.
