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 yesterday.

Between the lines: The Cranberry Costco's license is listed as in "safekeeping" as of yesterday, 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 yesterday, there was no construction occurring inside or outside the building.

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A new cat cafe is joining Pittsburgh's expanding roster.

The big picture: Kitty Co. Cat Rescue and Lounge opened Saturday in Bridgeville, growing its physical footprint in the South Hills and giving visitors a place to play with adoptable cats and reset their nervous system in good company.

Zoom in: Founder Savannah Johnston started rescuing cats while working from home during the pandemic six years ago.

• She saw a need for a more robust rescue network and soon launched Kitty Co. — which secured nonprofit status just over a year ago. The team moved into its new space last fall next to Mutt Manor.

How it works: Walk-ins are welcome 4pm-7pm Tuesday and Friday and 11am-5pm Saturday, with expanded hours and reservations possible down the line.

• The house rules are simple: No lifting the cats without asking and no unsupervised kids under 16.

The vibe: Meet adoptable cats of every age and temperament in a lounge lined with cozy seating and interactive toys beneath a neon sign that reads "this must be the place."

• Buy snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks and juice for a small fee.

What's next: The rescue is looking for volunteers, and the lounge will be available for small events.

If you go: 548 Baldwin St., Bridgeville

• Cost: $6 per 30 minutes or $10 per hour

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No one wants to hear this amid a brutally cold Pittsburgh season, but the region's winters are actually getting shorter on average.

• That's per a new analysis based on temperatures rather than calendar dates from Climate Central, a climate research group.

Zoom in: Compared to the 1970-1997 period, Pittsburgh winters over the last 27 years are three days shorter on average.

• Winter typically lasted between Dec. 4 to March 3 between 1970-1997.
• Between 1998-2025, winter lasted between Dec. 7 and March 3.

Zoom out: Winters are now shorter in 80% of the 245 U.S. cities analyzed in the report.

• Among those 195 cities, winter lasts for nine fewer days on average.
• Nearby Youngstown, Ohio, saw its winters decrease by six days.
• Erie winters are 16 days shorter.

How it works: Climate Central defined "winter" as the coldest 90 days of the year in a row during the 1970-1997 period, then compared the frequency of those temperatures during the 1998-2025 period.

• That temperature-based approach is different from the way seasons are traditionally defined by calendar dates.

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