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Pennsylvania expired restaurant liquor license auctions: every result, 2016 to 2026

Since fall 2016 the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has sold expired restaurant (R) licenses by sealed bid. We compiled the top bid for every one of the 449 license offerings in the 15 completed auctions into one place, so an operator pricing a license in a given county can see what the state's own auctions have actually produced there.

The 16th auction is open now. The PLCB is taking sealed bids on 20 expired restaurant licenses, one in each of Adams, Berks, Bucks, Cambria, Carbon, Crawford, Delaware, Greene, Jefferson, Lancaster, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, Snyder, Washington and Wayne counties. Bids are due by noon Monday, Oct. 5, and will be opened Thursday, Oct. 8. The minimum bid is $25,000, with a bid surety of $5,000 or 5% of the bid, whichever is higher. These licenses can only move to another municipality within the same county. (Source: PLCB auction page.) We will add the results here when the PLCB posts them.

The numbers

449license offerings in 15 auctions (some licenses were offered more than once)
372drew a valid top bid
$82,500median top bid, regular auctions 1 to 14
$556,000highest top bid in a regular auction (Carlisle, Cumberland Co., 2016)

Across the 14 regular auctions, there were 439 license offerings and 362 drew a valid top bid. The rest received no bid, or in one case a bid under the $25,000 floor that the PLCB disqualified. A license that goes unsold is not gone: several appear again in later auctions, and the 2026 excess auction exists specifically to re-offer licenses that never sold.

The spread is the story. The same kind of license has gone for $25,111 in Butler Township, Schuylkill County (2020) and for $556,000 in Carlisle, Cumberland County (2016). In the data, county looks like the biggest driver, and a regular-auction license cannot leave the county where it expired.

Auction by auction

Figures are computed from each auction's top-bidders list as published by the PLCB. "Validated bids" is the total number of bids the PLCB reported validating in its results release for that auction.

PLCB expired restaurant license auctions, top bids
#AuctionLicenses offeredWith top bidNo valid bidValidated bidsLowest top bidHighest top bidAverageMedianPLCB documents
1Fall 201640373134$51,500$556,000$210,610$150,000top bidders, release
2March 20175042890$25,001$463,802$119,315$84,000top bidders, release
3July 201750455131$26,068$347,127$133,137$105,201top bidders, release
4November 201750419106$25,605$351,502$120,198$93,500top bidders, release
5April 20183026466$25,501$350,000$116,315$80,300top bidders, release
6August 20182520547$25,331$351,001$94,609$60,950top bidders, release
7November 20183325851$25,331$176,001$73,915$57,700top bidders, release
8March 20192522362$28,888$276,100$95,255$70,050top bidders, release
9September 20192520554$35,999$256,111$82,362$58,828top bidders, release
10June 20202518743$25,111$250,112$88,508$56,572top bidders, release
11November 20222120169$25,111$460,751$162,574$119,500top bidders, release
12September 20232015549$30,001$400,000$141,145$111,111top bidders, release
13October 20242016431$26,500$361,100$113,214$79,126top bidders, release
14October 202525151051$32,501$302,501$129,904$89,000top bidders, release
15June 2026 (excess, cross-county)1010054$105,000$557,777$284,394$200,368top bidders, release

Where our computed figure differs from the PLCB release, we show the figure from the top-bidders list, which is the later and more detailed document. Auction 1: the release (Nov. 3, 2016) gives an average of "about $212,000"; the revised top-bidders list works out to $210,610. Auction 3: the release gives a low of $25,101 in Coal Township, Northumberland County; the top-bidders list shows $31,419 for Coal Township and a low of $26,068 (Chester, Delaware County). Auction 4: release average $120,490; revised list $120,198. Auction 11: release average $154,833; the list works out to $162,574. Auction 2 excludes a $22,000 bid in Coal Township that the PLCB disqualified for being under the minimum.

What licenses sold for, by county

Regular auctions 1 to 14 only, because those licenses had to stay in their home county. The June 2026 excess auction is left out of this table since its winners could move licenses across county lines. Counties are sorted by median top bid. Counties with one or two sales are thin evidence; treat them as single data points, not a price.

Top bids by county, auctions 1 to 14
CountyOfferedSoldMedian top bidLowestHighest
Cumberland11$556,000$556,000$556,000
Chester66$457,526$26,068$526,000
Lancaster66$355,210$317,212$407,600
Montgomery1616$340,064$151,000$526,000
Centre33$325,419$307,500$425,000
Butler22$306,000$306,000$306,000
Bucks109$301,000$33,344$351,001
York88$282,100$239,000$300,000
Adams22$205,500$200,000$211,000
Lehigh1010$170,518$50,000$231,000
Franklin21$170,100$170,100$170,100
Philadelphia1616$165,000$129,500$186,357
Dauphin1311$162,000$35,331$200,000
Berks1313$150,777$51,900$185,000
Northampton1414$145,500$125,499$400,000
Columbia55$132,001$71,222$228,500
Delaware1413$131,749$26,068$300,000
Wyoming43$131,131$53,740$185,419
Lebanon1111$125,000$58,135$176,900
Blair99$116,600$33,331$130,100
Monroe97$113,575$45,000$150,419
Mercer66$102,500$100,000$115,700
Snyder22$93,720$31,338$156,102
Bedford54$85,050$65,212$107,500
Allegheny1615$83,000$32,501$116,000
Lycoming99$80,251$51,111$151,232
Indiana63$76,500$40,000$76,500
Westmoreland95$75,015$35,500$92,000
Erie1312$71,500$66,500$190,000
Luzerne108$71,083$30,001$105,201
Montour22$71,010$52,019$90,000
Clarion53$70,000$57,700$72,000
Crawford52$69,500$55,000$84,000
Perry11$66,666$66,666$66,666
Susquehanna33$66,666$51,600$79,100
Fayette43$65,000$52,000$81,000
Washington53$65,000$50,000$71,500
Pike96$62,017$47,212$101,000
Lackawanna109$60,000$26,500$75,000
Carbon64$57,322$31,000$71,111
Bradford76$57,250$25,331$81,001
Somerset96$56,250$45,000$80,556
Tioga11$55,500$55,500$55,500
Huntingdon77$55,000$35,000$75,523
Venango33$55,000$45,000$55,600
Warren31$55,000$55,000$55,000
Potter64$53,829$38,000$75,001
Clearfield109$51,000$31,159$89,000
Wayne76$50,000$36,900$72,019
McKean77$50,000$27,478$80,000
Beaver75$49,015$35,005$78,000
Armstrong62$41,630$28,260$55,000
Mifflin65$41,101$31,101$62,100
Lawrence65$41,005$25,720$75,101
Clinton65$40,000$25,331$81,121
Jefferson33$35,000$35,000$35,000
Sullivan52$33,503$25,501$41,505
Schuylkill75$32,000$25,111$67,100
Northumberland85$31,551$28,555$45,000
Greene51$31,500$31,500$31,500
Elk55$28,888$25,111$105,000
Cambria42$28,250$25,001$31,500
Fulton21$25,331$25,331$25,331
Cameron50no sale--
Forest30no sale--
Juniata10no sale--

The southeast and south-central counties dominate the top of the table: Chester, Lancaster, Montgomery, Bucks and York all have medians near or above $280,000. Philadelphia, with 16 sales, sits around $165,000, and Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), with 15 sales, around $83,000. Many rural counties clear at or near the floor, and some licenses have gone through three or more auctions without a single bid.

Who wins

Restaurants are not the main buyers. The winner lists are led by convenience-store and grocery chains. Counting all 15 auctions, the ten most frequent winning bidders took 182 of the 372 licenses that drew a valid top bid. Bidder names are grouped where the PLCB lists the same company with different punctuation; Giant Food Stores LLC and The Giant Company are counted together because the lists use both names across years. Where the PLCB lists a private individual as the winning bidder, the tables below show "Individual bidder" instead of the name; companies are shown as listed.

Most frequent top bidders, auctions 1 to 15
Bidder (as listed by the PLCB)Licenses won
Sheetz Inc54
Giant Food Stores LLC / The Giant Company40
Weis Markets Inc20
Turkey Hill LP13
CHR Corp11
Nittany Oil Company Inc11
Country Fair Inc9
Malwa Ventures LLC8
Specialty Lenders (listed as Ltd and as LLC)8
Wawa Inc8

For an independent restaurant, the practical read is that in a county where a chain is expanding, you are bidding against a buyer with a store opening plan behind it. In counties the chains are not chasing, licenses regularly go near the minimum.

The 2026 cross-county auction

The 15th auction, in June 2026, was different. Act 56 of 2025 requires the PLCB to hold an "excess auction" at least once a year for expired licenses that were previously auctioned and drew no bids, and those licenses can be transferred across county lines for an additional fee. The PLCB validated 54 bids on 10 licenses; every license drew at least two bids, and the average top bid was $284,394.50.

The effect is visible in the prices. License R-11075 in Shippen Township, Cameron County went through auctions 1, 5 and 10 without a bid. In June 2026 it drew a top bid of $500,000 from Sheetz Inc, with Cumberland County listed as the transfer county.

Auction 15 (June 2026) top bids
LicenseExpired inTop bidderTransfer countyTop bid
R-678Leechburg, ArmstrongTHE GIANT COMPANY LLCCumberland$402,000
R-11058Johnstown, CambriaWAWA INCChester$470,031
R-11075Shippen Twp., CameronSHEETZ INCCumberland$500,000
R-6208Cumberland Twp., GreeneTHREE MONKEYS CROYDON INCBucks$105,000
R-15884Shamokin, NorthumberlandTHREE MONKEYS CROYDON INCMontgomery$105,000
R-14193Conemaugh Twp., SomersetCHR CORPYork$200,067
R-14862Laporte, SullivanIndividual bidderChester$557,777
R-11962Sheffield Twp., WarrenCHR CORPYork$200,670
R-8853Smith Twp., WashingtonIndividual bidderMonroe$161,000
R-16723Vandergrift, WestmorelandTHE GIANT COMPANY LLCLancaster$142,400

How the auctions work

A top bid is not the same as a completed sale. Winning bidders still have to pay and have their license application approved, and the PLCB has said in its releases that bids are held in escrow pending approval. The figures on this page are the top bids the PLCB announced, not closing prices.

Every license, every auction

The full top-bidder list for each auction, as published by the PLCB. A dash means no valid bid.

Auction 1: Fall 2016 (40 licenses)
Bid #LicenseCountyMunicipalityTop bidderTop bid
1R-17421AdamsConewago Twp.Sheetz Inc$211,000
2R-8109AlleghenyStowe Twp.Sheetz Inc$82,500
3R-564AlleghenyPittsburghSheetz Inc$85,000
4R-10466AlleghenyRankin BoroughSheetz Inc$82,500
5R-647AlleghenyEast Mckeesport BoroughSheetz Inc$82,500
6R-9878BlairTyrone BoroughGiant Food Stores LLC$110,000
7R-19232BucksBristol Twp.Giant Food Stores LLC$301,000
8R-19470ButlerBuffalo Twp.Sheetz Inc$306,000
9R-8849ButlerButlerSheetz Inc$306,000
10R-11075CameronShippen Twp.--
11R-17133CameronPortage Twp.--
12R-20077CentreFerguson TwpSheetz Inc$307,500
13R-21442ChesterEast Caln Twp.Giant Food Stores LLC$511,000
14R-1833ChesterCoatesvilleGiant Food Stores LLC$526,000
15R-11607CumberlandCarlisle BoroughGiant Food Stores LLC$556,000
16R-19679DauphinPillow BoroughTurkey Hill LP$162,000
17R-17890DauphinHarrisburgTurkey Hill LP$161,000
18R-2088DelawareChester--
19R-19306DelawareUpper Darby Twp.Individual bidder$141,001
20R-10830ErieErieSheetz Inc$70,500
21R-21237ErieWaterford BoroughSheetz Inc$66,500
22R-18947IndianaGlen Campbell BoroughSheetz Inc$76,500
23R-17468IndianaEast Wheatfield Twp.Sheetz Inc$76,500
24R-8023LancasterColumbia BoroughTCCC Lancaster Holdings LP$375,002
25R-16041LancasterLancasterGiant Food Stores LLC$383,500
26R-16136LehighHeidelberg Twp.Weis Markets Inc$120,011
27R-16124LehighWhitehall Twp.Giant Food Stores LLC$231,000
28R-75MontgomeryNarberth BoroughGiant Food Stores LLC$491,300
29R-18933MontgomerySkippack Twp.Giant Food Stores LLC$526,000
30R-116PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaIndividual bidder$135,111
31R-351PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaIndividual bidder$129,500
32R-283PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaDanlu LLC$175,100
33R-417PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPP Liquor LLC$150,000
34R-2806SomersetConemaugh Twp.Sheetz Inc$51,500
35R-17249SomersetSomerset Twp.Sheetz Inc$55,000
36R-1967WashingtonBurgettstown BoroughSheetz Inc$71,500
37R-9708WestmorelandNew KensingtonGiant Eagle Inc$75,015
38R-8455WestmorelandDerry Twp.Giant Eagle Inc$75,015
39R-19737YorkPenn Twp.Giant Food Stores LLC$288,000
40R-19862YorkGlen Rock BoroughGiant Food Stores LLC$239,000

Source: PLCB auction 1 top bidders (PDF)

Auction 2: March 2017 (50 licenses)
Bid #LicenseCountyMunicipalityTop bidderTop bid
41R-6999AlleghenyCity Of PittsburghSHEETZ INC$72,000
42R-9894AlleghenyCity Of PittsburghSHEETZ INC$83,000
43R-1870ArmstrongBorough Of Ford CitySHEETZ INC$55,000
44R-19103BeaverHopewell Township--
45R-17057BedfordNapier TownshipSHEETZ INC$85,000
46R-12145BerksCity Of ReadingGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$151,432
47R-13300BradfordMonroe TownshipIndividual bidder$52,400
48R-8902CambriaLower Yoder TownshipSHEETZ INC$25,001
49R-1190CarbonBorough Of Beaver Meadows--
50R-11803ChesterBorough Of PhoenixvilleGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$454,301
51R-16995ClarionMadison TownshipSHEETZ INC$70,000
52R-4208ClearfieldBorough Of ClearfieldGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$77,110
53R-16703ClintonColebrook TownshipSHEETZ INC$42,000
54R-6479ColumbiaBriar Creek TownshipSHEETZ INC$150,000
55R-8078CrawfordSadsbury TownshipSHEETZ INC$55,000
56R-11603DauphinBorough Of MiddletownCHR CORP$191,000
57R-9128ElkJones TownshipGIANT EAGLE INC$105,000
58R-8052FayetteBorough Of DunbarSHEETZ INC$52,000
59R-21508FranklinBorough Of Chambersburg--
60R-6208GreeneCumberland Township--
61R-21290HuntingdonBorough Of HuntingdonGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$54,000
62R-16819JeffersonGaskill TownshipSHEETZ INC$35,000
63R-14816LackawannaBorough Of Old ForgeSHEETZ INC$60,000
64R-17752LancasterBorough Of ElizabethtownTURKEY HILL LP$407,600
65R-5547LawrenceCity Of New CastleIndividual bidder$25,720
66R-11889LebanonCity Of LebanonTURKEY HILL LP$112,500
67R-14486LehighCity Of AllentownGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$197,000
68R-7476LuzerneBorough Of PlymouthTURKEY HILL LP$103,400
69R-14927LycomingBorough Of South WilliamsportWEIS MARKETS INC$151,232
70R-12957McKeanCity Of BradfordSHEETZ INC$50,000
71R-2610MercerCity Of SharonSHEETZ INC$105,000
72R-14993MifflinBrown Township--
73R-21327MonroeMiddle SmithfieldRUNNING LANE, LLC$103,000
74R-18850MontgomeryAbington TownshipGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$463,802
75R-17357MontourBorough Of WashingtonvilleSHEETZ INC$90,000
76R-20673NorthamptonCity Of BethlehemIndividual bidder$125,499
77R-17931NorthumberlandCoal TownshipIndividual bidder$22,000 (disqualified)
78R-8630PhiladelphiaCity Of PhiladelphiaZHI LLC$151,100
79R-11467PhiladelphiaCity Of Philadelphia247 PHILLY INC$151,111
80R-19464PikeWestfall Township--
81R-17163PotterBorough Of GaletonACORN MARKETS INC$66,555
82R-1468SchuylkillCity Of PottsvilleTURKEY HILL LP$67,100
83R-20454SnyderPenn TownshipGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$156,102
84R-6432SullivanCherry TownshipACORN MARKETS INC$41,505
85R-7923SusquehannaBorough Of Forest CityPUMP N PANTRY INC$51,600
86R-8930VenangoCity Of Oil CitySHEETZ INC$45,000
87R-14930WarrenBorough Of TidiouteSHEETZ INC$55,000
88R-10940WayneMount Pleasant Township--
89R-20964WyomingOverfield TownshipIndividual bidder$131,131
90R-19733YorkPenn TownshipGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$291,012

Source: PLCB auction 2 top bidders (PDF)

Auction 3: July 2017 (50 licenses)
Bid #LicenseCountyMunicipalityTop bidderTop bid
91R-2627AlleghenyCity Of PittsburghLAKES VENTURE LLC$83,500
92R-5868AlleghenyCity Of PittsburghLAKES VENTURE LLC$83,500
93R-6646BeaverBorough Of Ambridge--
94R-17838BedfordCumberland Valley TownshipSHEETZ INC$85,100
95R-21445BerksUpper Bern TownshipREDNER'S MARKETS INC$150,777
96R-10102BerksCity Of ReadingREDNER'S MARKETS INC$150,777
97R-21382BlairLogan TownshipWEIS MARKETS INC$115,419
98R-7603BradfordBorough Of SayrePUMP N PANTRY INC$62,100
99R-4165BucksMiddletown TownshipJUNIPER VILLAGE AT BENSALEM OPERATIONS LL$305,000
100R-15901CentreSnow Shoe TownshipWEIS MARKETS INC$325,419
101R-11593ChesterBorough Of PhoenixvilleIndividual bidder$26,068
102R-1833ChesterCity Of CoatesvilleIndividual bidder$26,144
103R-16810ClarionElk TownshipIndividual bidder$72,000
104R-21306ClearfieldGirard Township--
105R-14901ColumbiaCity Of BerwickGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$132,001
106R-19548DauphinLower Paxton TownshipWEIS MARKETS INC$185,419
107R-2088DelawareCity Of ChesterIndividual bidder$26,068
108R-19889DelawareBorough Of GlenoldenIndividual bidder$26,144
109R-5173ErieCity Of ErieCOUNTRY FAIR INC$70,501
110R-20107ForestHarmony Township--
111R-21508FranklinBorough Of ChambersburgCHR CORP$170,100
112R-18054FultonLicking Creek Township--
113R-17918HuntingdonShirley TownshipWEIS MARKETS INC$60,419
114R-2910LackawannaBorough Of TaylorGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$62,001
115R-17912LancasterBorough Of DenverWEIS MARKETS INC$317,419
116R-17531LancasterCity Of LancasterWEIS MARKETS INC$335,419
117R-19485LebanonWest Lebanon TownshipWEIS MARKETS INC$150,419
118R-8401LehighCity Of AllentownGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$176,010
119R-16372LehighCity Of AllentownGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$161,899
120R-2543LuzerneCity Of NanticokeGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$105,201
121R-4563LuzerneBorough Of AvocaTURKEY HILL LP$75,500
122R-13222LycomingCity Of WilliamsportSHEETZ INC$95,500
123R-14993MifflinBrown TownshipWEIS MARKETS INC$35,419
124R-21421MonroePocono TownshipWEIS MARKETS INC$150,419
125R-21431MontgomerySkippack TownshipIndividual bidder$200,000
126R-18835MontgomeryAbington TownshipGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$347,127
127R-7411NorthamptonCity Of BethlehemIndividual bidder$135,000
128R-17931NorthumberlandCoal TownshipWEIS MARKETS INC$31,419
129R-21075PerryMiller TownshipMALWA VENTURES LLC$66,666
130R-559PhiladelphiaCity Of PhiladelphiaBOURSE FOOD HALL LLC$186,000
131R-1517PhiladelphiaCity Of PhiladelphiaIndividual bidder$167,779
132R-20087PotterGenesse Township--
133R-13958SchuylkillBorough Of Pine GroveTURKEY HILL LP$30,500
134R-18611SnyderBorough Of SelinsgroveD&R BOTTOM LINE LLC$31,338
135R-17251SomersetShade TownshipCUSTER HOLDINGS LLC$80,556
136R-21095TiogaBorough Of KnoxvilleACORN MARKETS INC$55,500
137R-1973WestmorelandBorough Of MonessonSPEEDWAY LLC$92,000
138R-14707WyomingFalls TownshipWEIS MARKETS INC$185,419
139R-20115YorkWest Manchester TownshipCHR CORP$280,100
140R-18780YorkCity Of YorkCHR CORP$280,100

Source: PLCB auction 3 top bidders (PDF)

Auction 4: November 2017 (50 licenses)
Bid #LicenseCountyMunicipalityTop bidderTop bid
141R-1414AlleghenyPittsburghSPEEDWAY LLC$93,500
142R-20184AlleghenyMount LebanonSPEEDWAY LLC$94,100
143R-678ArmstrongLeechburg--
144R-18707BedfordBedford TwpWEIS MARKETS INC$65,212
145R-11860BerksReadingWEIS MARKETS INC$85,212
146R-8344BerksReadingCHR CORP$145,001
147R-10896BlairAntis TwpCHR CORP$115,501
148R-17927BradfordCanton Twp--
149R-11950BucksNockamixon TwpGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$281,101
150R-19946ClarionBeaver Twp--
151R-21306ClearfieldGirard TwpBALD EAGLE FUEL & TIRE INC DBA SNAP$38,750
152R-14743ClintonLock HavenWEIS MARKETS INC$35,212
153R-5284ColumbiaBerwickQSL ENTERPRISE LTD$228,500
154R-16948CrawfordGreenwood Twp--
155R-11880DauphinHarrisburgIndividual bidder$200,000
156R-17618DauphinHarrisburgSHEETZ INC$192,500
157R-5203DelawareChesterGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$39,001
158R-13348ElkJohnsonburgNITTANY OIL COMPANY INC$25,605
159R-8397ErieCity Of ErieCOUNTRY FAIR INC$68,500
160R-8391ErieCity Of ErieCOUNTRY FAIR INC$68,500
161R-7326FayetteConnellsville--
162R-12574HuntingdonHuntingdonMARTIN OIL CO$35,000
163R-18142IndianaWest Wheatfield Twp--
164R-18713JeffersonHenderson TwpTA OPERATING LLC$35,000
165R-14814LackawannaScrantonTURKEY HILL MINIT MARKETS$26,500
166R-3758LackawannaArchbaldPRICE CHOPPER OPERATING CO OF PA I$75,000
167R-17793LancasterClay TwpWEIS MARKETS INC$317,212
168R-2070LawrenceNew Castle--
169R-19014LebanonMill Creek TownshipCHR CORP$140,001
170R-15695LehighAllentownIndividual bidder$165,027
171R-21004LuzerneBuck TwpMALWA VENTURES LLC$66,666
172R-7871LuzerneAshleyMALWA VENTURES LLC$66,666
173R-18124LycomingLoyalsock TwpIndividual bidder$71,111
174R-17982McKeanSergeant TwpREID STORES INC$75,000
175R-10952MercerFarrellSPEEDWAY LLC$109,500
176R-14016MifflinLewistownCK RESTAURANTS LLC$50,100
177R-21217MonroeMiddle Smithfield TwpMALWA VENTURES LLC$125,666
178R-19740MonroeEast StroudsburgDIONYSUS LLC$113,575
179R-19546MontgomeryAbington TwpGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$302,101
180R-18583MontgomeryLower Pottsgrove TwGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$351,502
181R-21000NorthamptonWind GapGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$136,200
182R-9279NorthamptonNorthamptonNEETI CORPORATION$138,100
183R-11735NorthumberlandMarion HeightsIndividual bidder$28,555
184R-2120PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia112 CAFÉ, LLC$165,001
185R-7548PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaAI LIQ LIMITED LIABILITY CO$176,999
186R-19464PikeWestfall TwpWEIS MARKETS INC$47,212
187R-8853WashingtonSmith Twp--
188R-17046WestmorelandDonegal Twp--
189R-13406WyomingClinton TwpPUMP N PANTRY INC$53,740
190R-16758YorkNorth YorkCHR CORP$280,501

Source: PLCB auction 4 top bidders (PDF)

Auction 5: April 2018 (30 licenses)
Bid #LicenseCountyMunicipalityTop bidderTop bid
191R-10208AlleghenyWhite OakSPECIALTY LENDERS LTD$60,000
192R-2459BerksMuhlenberg TownshipCARMIKE CINEMAS LLC$185,000
193R-11494BlairAltoonaSHEETZ INC$116,600
194R-20777BucksBensalem TownshipTORNADO LLC,$329,319
195R-8096CambriaNanty GloSHEETZ INC$31,500
196R-11075CameronShippen Township--
197R-12982ClearfieldIrvonaCHARLIE'S RESTAURANT SERVICES, LLC$31,159
198R-19632ColumbiaPine TownshipIndividual bidder$71,222
199R-11632DauphinSteelton--
200R-19658DelawareDarby TownshipIndividual bidder$112,698
201R-16989ErieUnion TownshipCOUNTRY FAIR INC$70,000
202R-13350LackawannaJessupTURKEY HILL MINIT MARKETS$70,000
203R-3640LebanonLebanonREDNER'S MARKETS INC$151,000
204R-14126LehighAllentownREDNER'S MARKETS INC$180,777
205R-5661LuzerneWest HazletonTURKEY HILL MINIT MARKETS$84,500
206R-2326LycomingMontoursvilleTURKEY HILL MINIT MARKETS$99,000
207R-17263McKeanKeating TownshipSHEETZ INC$76,100
208R-20839MercerHermitageSHEETZ INC$115,700
209R-16770MifflinDerry TownshipNITTANY OIL COMPANY INC$31,101
210R-20026MonroePocono Township--
211R-15117MontgomeryLower Providence TownshipPLYMOUTH SQUARE ASSOCIATES I$350,000
212R-9219NorthamptonPlainfield TownshipSHELBY BROTHERS LLC$141,050
213R-12148PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia7-ELEVEN INC$180,000
214R-15896SchuylkillTamaquaSHEETZ INC$46,600
215R-3116SomersetCentral CityTURKEY HILL MINIT MARKETS$60,000
216R-13371SullivanLaporteIndividual bidder$25,501
217R-17603SusquehannaForest Lake TownshipMALWA VENTURES LLC$66,666
218R-17778VenangoVictory TownshipCOUNTRY FAIR INC$55,000
219R-11962WarrenSheffield Township--
220R-18786YorkSpring Garden TownshipSHEETZ INC$283,700

Source: PLCB auction 5 top bidders (PDF)

Auction 6: August 2018 (25 licenses)
Bid #LicenseCountyMunicipalityTop bidderTop bid
221R-13260ArmstrongRural Valley--
222R-19405BradfordStevens TownshipD&R BOTTOMLINE LLC$25,331
223R-20310BucksPlumstead TownshipGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$351,001
224R-17133CameronPortage Township--
225R-13018CarbonLehightonVISTA FUELS LLC$31,000
226R-18166ClintonDunnstable TownshipD&R BOTTOMLINE LLC$25,331
227R-16839CrawfordLinesville--
228R-13793DauphinLower Paxton TownshipW EIS MARKETS INC$175,320
229R-7972ElkSaint MarysRIDGWAY FOODS$34,501
230R-1098GreeneFranklin TownshipPARK AVENUE WBG LLC$31,500
231R-11107HuntingdonFranklin TownshipIndividual bidder$46,500
232R-9723LebanonLebanonGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$121,001
233R-18228McKeanEldred TownshipCOUNTRY FAIR INC$80,000
234R-17084MercerWheatlandCOUNTRY FAIR INC$100,000
235R-18704MontgomerySpringfield TownshipPJW RESTAURANT HOLDING LLC$250,150
236R-18739NorthamptonPalmer TownshipPAKU & SHACHI LLC$145,000
237R-10136NorthumberlandRockefeller TownshipSAANCHI LLC$31,551
238R-8566PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaIndividual bidder$165,000
239R-20437PikeMilfordWALLENPAUPACK BREWING COMPANY LLC$71,900
240R-10669PotterCoudersportNITTANY OIL COMPANY INC$41,103
241R-20896SchuylkillEast Union Township--
242R-20033SusquehannaSusquehanna (Depot)PUMP N PANTRY INC$79,100
243R-16852WashingtonJefferson TownshipSPECIALTY LENDERS LTD$50,000
244R-17938WaynePaupack TownshipWALLENPAUPACK BREWING COMPANY LLC$36,900
245R-16723WestmorelandVandergrift--

Source: PLCB auction 6 top bidders (PDF)

Auction 7: November 2018 (33 licenses)
Bid #LicenseCountyMunicipalityTop bidderTop bid
246R-10977AlleghenyEtna--
247R-18348BeaverPulaski TownshipGIANT EAGLE INC$35,005
248R-18707BedfordBedford TownshipSHEETZ INC$107,500
249R-16442BerksReadingSHEETZ INC$158,500
250R-9496BlairJuniata TownshipSHEETZ INC$119,500
251R-19370BucksBristol TownshipSLY TOM'S ENTERPRISES LLC$33,344
252R-11098CarbonLansford--
253R-19946ClarionBeaver TownshipPINNACLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INC$57,700
254R-18745ClearfieldCurwensvilleNITTANY OIL COMPANY INC$41,101
255R-5284ColumbiaBerwickGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$75,101
256R-17663DauphinHarrisburgDOUBLE WAGER LLC$35,331
257R-18589DelawareRidley Park601-615 CHESTER PIKE ASSOCIATES LLC$80,001
258R-8821ErieErieTA OPERATING LLC$72,500
259R-20107ForestHarmony Township--
260R-18054FultonLicking Creek TownshipDOUBLE WAGER LLC$25,331
261R-11499IndianaWhite Township--
262R-10709JeffersonReynoldsvilleWEAVER BROTHERS LLC$35,000
263R-3997LackawannaFell TownshipIndividual bidder$35,505
264R-13832LebanonSouth Lebanon TownshipGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$75,101
265R-15316LuzerneWilkes Barre--
266R-8895LycomingWilliamsportNITTANY OIL COMPANY INC$65,101
267R-11372McKeanKaneCOSTA'S SUPERMARKET INC$35,010
268R-10801MercerSharpsvilleCOUNTRY FAIR INC$100,000
269R-16373MifflinLewistownNITTANY OIL COMPANY INC$41,101
270R-21010MonroeMiddle Smithfield TownshipDUNNE MANNING STORES$45,000
271R-7070MontgomeryJenkintownBEDROS INC$151,000
272R-16305NorthamptonBethlehem TownshipGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$146,001
273R-15884NorthumberlandShamokin--
274R-16148PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaLCB VENTURES LLC$176,001
275R-21265PikePalmyra TownshipIndividual bidder$52,134
276R-17753PotterEulalia Township--
277R-6718SomersetCentral City--
278R-13619WayneHonesdaleHIGHHOUSE ENERGY$50,001

Source: PLCB auction 7 top bidders (PDF)

Auction 8: March 2019 (25 licenses)
Bid #LicenseCountyMunicipalityTop bidderTop bid
279R-13306BerksWindsor TownshipKEIKO PROPERTIES LLC$131,000
280R-8671BlairAltoonaSHEETZ INC$120,000
281R-7299BucksMiddletown TownshipCHESAPEAKE & DELAWARE BREWING HOLDINGS LLC$276,100
282R-5998ClearfieldHuston TownshipSHEETZ INC$77,500
283R-17586DauphinHarrisburg--
284R-9572DelawareMiddletown TownshipWAWA INC$160,357
285R-16168ElkRidgwayIndividual bidder$28,888
286R-4190ErieMillcreek TownshipKANG FUEL & FOOD MART INC$75,100
287R-12660FayetteRedstone TownshipWAL-MART STORES EAST LP$65,000
288R-19060HuntingdonHenderson TownshipSHEETZ INC$65,000
289R-15103LackawannaMoosicK AND J REAL ESTATE LLC$36,111
290R-10023LawrenceEllwood CityIndividual bidder$41,005
291R-13824LebanonLebanonREY AZTECA OF PALMYRA INC$125,000
292R-15695LehighAllentownDUNNE MANNING STORES LLC$50,000
293R-20104LycomingLewis TownshipIndividual bidder$51,111
294R-1051MercerSharonCOUNTRY FAIR INC$100,000
295R-8519MonroeHamilton Township--
296R-18749MontgomeryLower Merion TownshipIndividual bidder$152,000
297R-18346NorthamptonWilsonTHE 1600 LLC$153,600
298R-876PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaWAWA INC$186,357
299R-10722PikeMatamorasWEIS MARKETS INC$50,377
300R-17902SullivanDavidson Township--
301R-18778VenangoRousevilleSHEETZ INC$55,600
302R-522WayneBerlin TownshipPRESTON COUNTRY MARKET LLC$60,000
303R-20780WestmorelandSt. Clair TownshipNPL MANAGEMENT INC$35,500

Source: PLCB auction 8 top bidders (PDF)

Auction 9: September 2019 (25 licenses)
Bid #LicenseCountyMunicipalityTop bidderTop bid
304R-6362AlleghenyPittsburghSPECIALTY LENDERS LTD$60,000
305R-8894BeaverBeaver FallsWAL-MART STORES EAST LP$45,010
306R-7600BerksReadingTOP STAR INCORPORATED$51,900
307R-8490BlairTyroneWAL-MART STORES EAST LP$121,000
308R-18073ClearfieldIrvonaWAL-MART STORES EAST LP$80,010
309R-17586DauphinHarrisburgIndividual bidder$107,600
310R-5073DelawareClifton HeightsWAWA INC$131,749
311R-10507ErieErieWAL-MART STORES EAST LP$80,010
312R-20107ForestHarmony Twp--
313R-18146HuntingdonShirleysburgSHEETZ INC$55,000
314R-14976LackawannaScrantonIndividual bidder$35,999
315R-14407LawrenceNew CastleTIC TOC FOOD MART INC OF PA$39,201
316R-16214LebanonLebanonIndividual bidder$58,135
317R-16971LuzerneFoster Twp--
318R-4032LycomingWilliamsportNITTANY OIL COMPANY INC$59,521
319R-4366McKeanMount JewettTOPS MARKETS LLC$37,500
320R-19117MontgomeryLower Gwynedd TwpCAJUN SEAFOOD CHELTENHAM LLC$256,111
321R-2146NorthamptonBethlehemRED CRAB JUICY SEAFOOD 888 LLC$135,000
322R-0026NorthumberlandSunbury--
323R-6677PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaNORTH BROAD-CLEMENTINES LLC$162,789
324R-21199PikeDelaware Twp--
325R-17251SomersetShade TwpSHEETZ INC$45,000
326R-16933WarrenColumbus Twp--
327R-10940WayneMt Pleasant TwpWEIS MARKETS INC$40,697
328R-9653WestmorelandNew KensingtonWAL-MART STORES EAST LP$45,010

Source: PLCB auction 9 top bidders (PDF)

Auction 10: June 2020 (25 licenses)
Bid #LicenseCountyMunicipalityTop bidderTop bid
329R-678ArmstrongLeechburg--
330R-3262BeaverKoppelSPECIALTY LENDERS LTD$49,015
331R-2924BerksReading733 LANCASTER FOOD CORP$121,900
332R-18810BlairBellwoodMARTIN OIL COMPANY$130,100
333R-17927BradfordCanton TwpDANDY MINI MARTS INC$80,011
334R-11075CameronShippen Twp--
335R-12077CarbonMahoning TwpMALLARD MARKETS INC$55,645
336R-21306ClearfieldGirard TwpNITTANY OIL COMPANY INC$47,101
337R-18141ClintonLeidy TwpDUNNE MANNING STORES LLC$40,000
338R-16948CrawfordGreenwood Twp--
339R-11632DauphinSteeltonIndividual bidder$42,227
340R-5203DelawareChesterCONSUMERS COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION OF SWARTHMORE INC$131,751
341R-1275ErieErie--
342R-6208GreeneCumberland Twp--
343R-18142IndianaWest Wheatfield TwpDUNNE MANNING STORES LLC$40,000
344R-13832LebanonSouth Lebanon Twp640 LEBANON FOOD CORP$101,900
345R-20026MonroePocono TwpIndividual bidder$51,000
346R-17540MontgomeryLansdaleMAGERKS ROYERSFORD INC$250,112
347R-15950NorthamptonBethlehemIndividual bidder$154,777
348R-6829PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaGIANT FOOD STORES LLC$165,000
349R-8102SchuylkillButler TwpIndividual bidder$25,111
350R-2806SomersetConemaugh TwpSHEETZ INC$57,500
351R-10203WashingtonWashington--
352R-17938WaynePaupack TwpDUNNE MANNING STORES LLC$50,000
353R-21207WestmorelandLower Burrell--

Source: PLCB auction 10 top bidders (PDF)

Auction 11: November 2022 (21 licenses)
Bid #LicenseCountyMunicipalityTop bidderTop bid
354R-9247BerksReadingMALWA VENTURES LLC$129,000
355R-1951BlairAltoonaDOUBLE WAGER LLC$33,331
356R-18554BradfordCanton TwpDANDY MINI MARTS INC$81,001
357R-21366BucksRichland TwpWAWA INC$340,000
358R-11058CambriaJohnstown--
359R-11098CarbonLansfordMALWA VENTURES LLC$59,000
360R-16982CentrePotter TwpFF&F OF ST LOUIS LLC$425,000
361R-20717ChesterUwchlanTHE GIANT COMPANY LLC$460,751
362R-18899ClintonGrugan TwpNITTANY OIL COMPANY INC$81,121
363R-11632DauphinSteeltonSPECIALTY LENDERS LTD$110,000
364R-5792DelawareChesterENERGY HORIZONS LLC$173,234
365R-18962ElkBenezette TwpSTRAUB BREWERY INC$25,111
366R-15132LebanonLebanonBYLER HOLDINGS LP$151,001
367R-11776MifflinLewistownNITTANY OIL COMPANY INC$62,100
368R-19844MonroePrice TwpAVNIKA INC$129,900
369R-15117MontgomeryLower ProvidenceWAWA INC$333,000
370R-21042MontourLiberty TwpIndividual bidder$52,019
371R-9237NorthamptonBethlehemTOP‐STAR EXPRESS INC$201,900
372R-5410SchuylkillDelano TwpTOP‐STAR EXPRESS INC$32,000
373R-10940WayneMt PleasantIndividual bidder$72,019
374R-18547YorkSpring Garden TwpCHR CORP$300,000

Source: PLCB auction 11 top bidders (PDF)

Auction 12: September 2023 (20 licenses)
Bid #LicenseCountyMunicipalityTop bidderTop bid
375R-14729AlleghenyPittsburghSYED & ARNEET, LLC$111,111
376R-16504BeaverAliquippaSPECIALTY LENDERS, LLC$72,500
377R-21395BerksWyomissingWAWA, INC$170,000
378R-18603BradfordCantonTOPS MARKETS, LLC$50,255
379R-16950ClearfieldCurwensvilleGREENE'S BRANDING IRON, LLC$51,000
380R-9508ClintonLock Haven--
381R-2088DelawareChesterWAWA, INC$300,000
382R-19194ErieHarborcreek Twp.SPECIALTY LENDERS, LLC$130,100
383R-17146GreeneJefferson Twp.--
384R-18142IndianaWest Wheatfield Twp.--
385R-14822LackawannaOld Forge--
386R-16259LebanonLebanon640 LEBANON FOOD GROUP$176,900
387R-15316LuzerneWilkes‐BarreIndividual bidder$30,001
388R-19311LycomingJersey ShoreNITTANY OIL COMPANY, INC$126,200
389R-13830MontgomeryNorristownSUBURBAN INVESTMENT CORP$350,100
390R-13866NorthamptonWalnutportARAMARK SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES, LLC$400,000
391R-2697NorthumberlandMount CarmelPATEL'S BEER, LLC$35,001
392R-20437PikeMilfordSAI MILFORD, LLC$76,001
393R-20087PotterGenesse Twp.BICYCLE BUILT FOR TWO, LLC$38,000
394R-19739SomersetJenner Twp.--

Source: PLCB auction 12 top bidders (PDF)

Auction 13: October 2024 (20 licenses)
Bid #LicenseCountyMunicipalityTop bidderTop bid
395R-10977AlleghenyEtnaGIANT EAGLE, INC$116,000
396R-13260ArmstrongRural ValleyLICENSE LEADERS, LLC$28,260
397R-6646BeaverAmbridgeGIANT EAGLE, INC$78,000
398R-21412BucksDoylestown--
399R-16862ClarionPaint Township--
400R-7454DelawareChesterREHOBOTH INC GROUP$26,500
401R-1275ErieErieFRANK C. URRARO CONSTRUCTION, INC dba URRARO OIL COMPANY$169,000
402R-9635FayetteRedstone TownshipGIANT EAGLE, INC$81,000
403R-19940HuntingdonSpringfield TownshipMARYMART FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP$75,523
404R-2070LawrenceNew CastleLYNCH KIDS, LLC$75,101
405R-15779LehighUpper Macungie TownshipTOP‐STAR EXPRESS, INC$151,100
406R-10799LycomingWilliamsportIndividual bidder$80,251
407R-17478McKeanKeating TownshipLICENSE LEADERS, LLC$27,478
408R-17540MontgomeryLansdaleIndividual bidder$361,100
409R-12654NorthamptonWilliams TownshipIndividual bidder$301,111
410R-19977PikeBlooming Grove TownshipMALWA VENTURES, LLC$101,000
411R-17753PotterEulalia TownshipUNITED REFINING COMPANY OF PENNSYLVANIA$75,001
412R-14862SullivanLaporte--
413R-10269WashingtonChartiers TownshipSPECIALTY LENDERS, LTD$65,000
414R-20965WestmorelandHempfield Township--

Source: PLCB auction 13 top bidders (PDF)

Auction 14: October 2025 (25 licenses)
Bid #LicenseCountyMunicipalityTop bidderTop bid
415R-16924AdamsFreedom TwpSHEETZ, INC$200,000
416R-5291AlleghenyOhio TwpIndividual bidder$32,501
417R-9859ArmstrongLeechburg--
418R-21521BedfordPavia Twp--
419R-15796BerksTilden TwpH&Y INVESTEMENTS, LLC$156,100
420R-20670BucksNew HopeSHEETZ, INC$225,000
421R-13912CambriaSummerhill Twp--
422R-18904CarbonFranklin TwpIndividual bidder$71,111
423R-16764ClearfieldDecatur TwpUNITED REFINING COMPANY OF PENNSYLVANIA$89,000
424R-16948CrawfordGreenwood TwpUNITED REFINING COMPANY OF PENNSYLVANIA$84,000
425R-15669DelawareChesterTHE GIANT COMPANY$211,000
426R-11563ErieErieUNITED REFINING COMPANY OF PENNSYLVANIA$190,000
427R-17146GreeneJefferson Twp--
428R-20949JuniataSusquehanna Twp--
429R-4462LawrenceNew CastleSHREE AADHYA, INC$51,000
430R-14822LackawannaOld ForgeIndividual bidder$65,000
431R-21060LehighSouth Whitehall TwpTHE FELIX RESTAURANT, LLC$186,100
432R-15230LuzerneHanover TwpGALAXY PETRO, INC$40,251
433R-3105NorthamptonEastonIndividual bidder$302,501
434R-10136NorthumberlandRockefeller TwpIndividual bidder$45,000
435R-14978PikeMatamoras--
436R-8102SchuylkillButler Twp--
437R-14193SomersetConemaugh Twp--
438R-17902SullivanDavidson Twp--
439R-7654WyomingFalls Twp--

Source: PLCB auction 14 top bidders (PDF)

Auction 15: June 2026 (10 licenses)
Bid #LicenseCountyMunicipalityTop bidderTransfer countyTop bid
440ER-678ArmstrongLeechburgTHE GIANT COMPANY LLCCumberland$402,000
441ER-11058CambriaJohnstownWAWA INCChester$470,031
442ER-11075CameronShippen Twp.SHEETZ INCCumberland$500,000
443ER-6208GreeneCumberland Twp.THREE MONKEYS CROYDON INCBucks$105,000
444ER-15884NorthumberlandShamokinTHREE MONKEYS CROYDON INCMontgomery$105,000
445ER-14193SomersetConemaugh Twp.CHR CORPYork$200,067
446ER-14862SullivanLaporteIndividual bidderChester$557,777
447ER-11962WarrenSheffield Twp.CHR CORPYork$200,670
448ER-8853WashingtonSmith Twp.Individual bidderMonroe$161,000
449ER-16723WestmorelandVandergriftTHE GIANT COMPANY LLCLancaster$142,400

Source: PLCB auction 15 top bidders (PDF)

Method and sources

We downloaded every top-bidder list and results release linked from the PLCB's auction page on September 17, 2026, extracted the tables, and checked each auction's license count, number of licenses with bids, and range against the matching PLCB release. Where the PLCB posted a revised top-bidder list (auctions 1 and 4), we used the revision. Averages and medians are simple statistics over the announced top bids. County and municipality spellings are normalized to title case; bidder names are shown as the PLCB lists them.

For how a Pennsylvania license fits into opening or buying a restaurant, see the 2017 Restaurateur News guides to the restaurant liquor license and buying an existing restaurant. In Florida, new quota licenses are handed out by lottery instead: see the 2026 Florida quota drawing.