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DALLAS TWP. — Supervisors approved a liquor-license transfer to Turkey Hill this week with one stipulation — no beer sales after 11 p.m.
The convenience-store chain’s location at the intersection of Routes 118 and 415 will be able to sell beer for on-site consumption until 10 p.m. and for takeout until 11 p.m.
The store acquired the liquor license from Drew Karpovich’s business, Balayszi’s Cafe, on Nanticoke Street in Hanover Township.
Last year, Gov. Tom Wolf approved legislation allowing beer and wine sales in grocery and convenience stores, according to attorney Paul A. Namey, who represented the tri-state chain.
Currently, Turkey Hill Minit Markets in Ohio and Indiana are selling alcohol, he noted.
“Alcohol sales as a percentage of in-store sales, excluding gasoline sales, is 9.7 percent in our Ohio and Indiana stores,” Namey said. “We expect that number to be pretty consistent with our Pennsylvania stores.”
The township’s Turkey Hill store will be renovated to accommodate the addition of alcohol, but the size of the store’s footprint will not change, according to the attorney.
The remodel will include seating for up to 30 patrons to meet state requirements.
“Generally, there will be aesthetic and equipment updates to the store and a reconfiguration and refresh of the layout to accommodate the required separations between gasoline and alcohol sales,” said Namey.
The business will retain all three existing registers, but one will be designated for alcohol sales only.
The beer inventory would be housed in a separate area called the “Beer Only Cave.”
Namey proposed beer sales would run from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday.
Customers wanting to drink their beer on-site will have a two-drink limit, he said.
The sales times did not sit well with supervisors William Grant and Elizabeth Martin.
“I’m just worried about alcohol sales after midnight on this highway,” Grant said.
“I’m worried about the 18-year-old behind the counter,” added Martin. Penn Mart, located at the same intersection, sells beer but “they close at 10 p.m.,” she noted
Namey assured supervisors there would be more than one employee on staff at night.
In an instance where a customer tries to go over the two-drink, in-house limit, the store clerk and manager would approach the patron.
If the patron refuses to stop drinking, the alcohol will be confiscated, and a refund issued, Namey said.