Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Centre Daily Times
Buffalo Wild Wings eyeing downtown State College location. Here’s what we know
By Bret Pallotto,
16 days ago
Casual dining chain Buffalo Wild Wings is looking to move into downtown State College, but it’s first seeking the transfer of a liquor license — a process that has drawn pushback in similar situations.
Borough Planning Director Ed LeClear told the Centre Daily Times that the business submitted a sign package for the first floor of the property, across from the Lion’s Den. He wrote in an email that the proposal may be for two floors, but was unable to tell from the application.
It would be Buffalo Wild Wings’ first in Centre County. Its nearest restaurant is in Lycoming County, about an hour and 15 minutes away. It has more than 1,300 locations nationwide, including 30 in Pennsylvania.
The license it’s seeking to transfer belongs to Don Patron Mexican Grill, which operated in Patton Township until it closed in March 2017 . Since it would be coming from outside the borough, Borough Council has greater latitude in deciding how to handle the request.
Elected decision-makers can choose to deny it or approve with a number of restrictions, from what time alcohol is served to whether it can advertise deals involving alcohol.
State College must approve the transfer before it can be considered by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, PLCB spokesman Shawn Kelly said. No other details were included in Borough Council’s work session agenda.
A message left Friday with the chain was not immediately returned. Commercial real estate agent Kandy Weader told the CDT she was unable to speak about the project as of Friday.
A public hearing for the liquor license transfer is scheduled for Aug. 5. A decision is slated for Aug. 19. Borough Manager Tom Fountaine and police Chief John Gardner are expected to review the process Monday.
Buffalo Wild Wings has long been interested in the State College area. The chain submitted plans in December 2015 to open in Ferguson Township, but withdrew them about two years later.
The latter was required to abide by a 60%/40% food-alcohol beverage ratio, alcohol sales are not permitted when food sales are not available and alcoholic beverages must be sold in containers less than 22 fluid ounces.
Don Patron is represented by Pittsburgh-based law firm Flaherty & O’Hara, one of the country’s largest liquor licensing practices. Its liquor license is in safekeeping status.
It’s difficult to say with certainty what the going rate is for liquor licenses in Centre County, but auctions of expired liquor licenses help provide some insight.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0