FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) — Beer and wine sales at Sheetz in Franklin took another step forward at Monday’s Franklin City Council meeting.

(Photo of Franklin Sheetz)

The City Council approved the transfer of a liquor license from Oil City to Sheetz store No. 84 located at the corner of 11h Street and Liberty Street.

At a public hearing prior to the regular meeting, Paul Namey, an attorney at Pittsburgh-based Flaherty & O’Hara speaking on behalf of Sheetz explained why the company was requesting the license.

“The goal of the company is to be able to have licenses at as many, preferably, all of the (Sheetz) stores,” Namey said.

Namey said beer and wine sales are accounting for 14 percent of Sheetz’s total inside sales (excluding gasoline) at the 88 active stores that have active liquor licenses (16 more stores have licenses in safekeeping awaiting renovations to be completed including the one in Seneca with another 32 pending reviews by the PCLB.)

Sheetz will now apply to the PCLB for the official transfer of the liquor licenses, which could take between 90 and 120 days, Namey said.

If that transfer is approved, Sheetz will then begin renovations on the Franklin store. Renovations would include the addition of an in-store eating area for 30 patrons (a combination of 4-seat tables and countertop tables) as well a “beer cave,” according to Namey. These would be added to the front of the store facing 11th Street.

If the license transfer is approved, patrons would be allowed to consume up to 32 ounces of beer on premises, as permitted by Sheetz company policy. Patrons consuming alcohol in the store must also purchase food.

Namey said only about 1 percent of the beer sales bought in the store is consumed on premise company-wide.

When asked about security in store, Namey said the beer cave, as well as the rest of the store, is covered by security cameras that are monitored 24-7 remotely at a control operation center, which is in constant radio contact with store employees.

Namey also said Sheetz has a “100 percent policy” on carding anyone making a beer or wine purchase (no hard liquor is sold.) That includes electronic scanning of all IDs.

“The safeguards are incredibly effective,” Namey said.

Councilman James Marshall asked if Namey was aware of any increase in complaints at stores with liquor licenses.

“There has been no additional complaints, no increase in complaints or enforcement at those stores,” Namey said.

If beer and wine sales come to Franklin, the hours the beer cave will be unlocked will be from 7 a.m. to 1:45 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 1:45 a.m. Sundays with purchases available until 2 a.m. all days.

City Manager Tracy Jamieson asked if the parking would change.

“It will stay in the current footprint,” Namey said.

Namey said if the PCLB approves the license transfer, Sheetz would hope to begin selling beer and wine in Franklin by spring 2019.