Winghart's owners miss North Huntingdon hearing for liquor license tranfer

A planned public hearing this week in North Huntingdon turned out to be a five-minute affair after two business owners missed their window to request permission to transfer an expired liquor license from Hempfield into the township.

Prasad Margabandhu and Sivram Bandhu, who own the liquor license under Bandhu Brothers Inc. of Pittsburgh, arrived at the township meeting on Thursday several minutes after the hearing ended. They want to transfer the license from the closed Winghart’s Burger Beer & Whiskey Bar at the Westmoreland Mall to the closed Rivertowne Pub & Grille along Route 30 in North Huntingdon. The brothers’ Shivs Real Estate bought 50% ownership in the old Rivertowne property in January.

Commissioners will vote on the transfer request when the board meets at 7 p.m. Nov. 21, said Jeff Silka, township manager.

Bruce Dice, township solicitor, said he had never seen a situation where someone wanted to transfer an expired liquor license.

“I don’t know how you transfer a license that is expired,” Dice said.

Without Margabandhu or Bandhu testifying, Dice said the township does not know anything about the operations of what the brothers are calling Winghart’s Lounge, whether it will be a dance hall or feature music.

“All of these things are lacking in the application,” Dice said.

Although the license is owned by Bandhu Brothers, the owners are seeking the transfer it under another corporate name, Smithfield Holdings Inc. of Mt. Lebanon.

Margabandhu said Thursday they are applying to transfer of ownership to Smithfield, but the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board website on Friday did not show any request for a transfer of ownership.