Walmart looks to expand alcohol sales in Western Pa.

Walmart wants to expand its sales of alcoholic beverages in Pennsylvania to its store in Unity and two other stores in Beaver and Clearfield counties.

Unity supervisors are scheduled a March 12public hearing in March on the retail giant’s plan to transfer to the store at 100 Colony Lane an expired restaurant liquor license from New Kensington. The hearing is set for 4 p.m., a half hour before the supervisors’ regular monthly meeting.

Walmart submitted winning bids for the New Kensington license and four others in an auction of expired licenses conducted in September by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Elizabeth Brassell, a spokeswoman for the state agency, explained Walmart and others who placed successful bids in the auction made full payments that are being held in escrow. The bidders were given six months to submit a license transfer application, which Walmart has yet to do for the Unity property.

Applications have been received, and PLCB decisions are pending, for liquor licenses Walmart wants to use for its stores at the Chippewa Towne Center in Chippewa Township, Beaver County, and at 20 Industrial Drive, Sandy Township — just outside DuBois in Clearfield County.

Walmart introduced its first sales of beer and wine in Pennsylvania on Nov. 7, at its Uniontown Supercenter. Products from Fayette County’s Christian W. Klay Winery were among the offerings in a cafe space at that store formerly occupied by a McDonald’s restaurant.

Details of the proposed alcoholic beverage sales at Walmart’s Unity store weren’t available this week..

A spokeswoman at the store said she had no information on the topic. Walmart’s public relations department could not be reached for comment.

To meet state requirements, a restaurant licensee must set aside at least 400 square feet with seating where food can be served to at least 30 people.

Alcohol sales must occur at a separate cash register, with limits on quantities that can be purchased in a single transaction. Malt beverages are limited to 192 ounces and wine is limited to three liters per customer. Wine can be sold until 11 p.m. while beer can be sold until 1:30 a.m.

In the September auction, Walmart bid $45,010 each for the expired licenses in New Kensington and Beaver Falls. It bid $80,010 each for a licenses in Erie and Irvona, Clearfield County, and $121,000 for a license in Tyrone, Blair County.

Bids are due March 16 for the PLCB’s 10th auction of expired restaurant licenses since August 2016. The 25 licenses up for grabs include one each from Westmoreland (Lower Burrell) and Armstrong (Leechburg) counties. Visit lcb.pa.gov and select “License Auctions” for more information.