Cranberry Costco set to sell beer and wine
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Costco in Cranberry, about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios
Pittsburgh could soon have the first Costco in the state to sell beer and wine.
Why it matters: Pennsylvania's liquor laws restrict where businesses can sell alcohol, and no Costco in the state sells beer or wine.
Zoom in: The Costco in Cranberry was issued a liquor license last month, according to Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) records.
Catch up quick: The wholesale giant indicated its desire to acquire a license to sell wine and beer in November, according to Cranberry borough officials.
- On Dec. 11, the borough approved a liquor license transfer from Houlihan's in Cranberry. That location closed in 2023.
Context: There are approximately 20,000 liquor licenses in Pennsylvania, including about 15,000 retail licenses, according to the PLCB.
- The state imposes a quota of one license for every 3,000 inhabitants in any county, but allows for licenses issued before 1939 to be grandfathered in.
- So most counties — like Butler County, where Cranberry is located — can't issue new licenses because they are above quota and licenses must be transferred instead.
Zoom out: There are 12 Costcos in Pennsylvania.
- The King of Prussia location is the only other state Costco listed in the PLCB system.
- It has yet to transfer a liquor license onto its premises, and its application is pending as of Monday.
Between the lines: The Cranberry Costco's license is listed as in "safekeeping" as of Monday, which means the license has been approved and is awaiting activation by the business owner, PLCB spokesperson Shawn Kelly tells Axios.
- Any business that wants to start beer and wine sales must first dedicate at least 400 square feet of space, provide seating for 30 people, and receive county health permits to serve food, said Kelly.
- This can be inside a current building or constructed as an addition.
Costco didn't immediately respond to questions about when it would begin selling beer and wine.
State of play: When Axios visited the Cranberry Costco on Monday, there was no construction occurring inside or outside the building.
What's next: Kelly couldn't speak specifically about the Cranberry Costco, but said to move a license out of safekeeping, a holder has to submit plans to PCLB for approval before they can start construction.