Cranberry shoppers may soon be able to grab a case of beer or a bottle of wine along with their bulk paper towels, as the local Costco moves closer to becoming the first in Pennsylvania to sell alcohol. The warehouse on Cranberry Square Drive now holds a restaurant liquor license that is sitting in safekeeping, following a transfer approved by borough supervisors in December. Before any booze hits the shelves, though, the store still needs formal approvals and a physical buildout, so regulars should not expect instant changes on their next run.
PLCB listing shows license is approved but not active
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) currently lists the Cranberry Costco’s license as in “safekeeping,” a label that means the board has approved the transfer but the business has not activated it, PLCB officials told Axios. The license exists on paper, but Costco still has to move through the remaining steps before it can start selling beer and wine, Axios reported.
How Pennsylvania's quota system shapes the move
Pennsylvania caps retail liquor licenses through a quota system, generally one license per 3,000 residents in each county, so counties that are already above quota, including Butler County, usually rely on transfers instead of getting new licenses, according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The PLCB also reports there are roughly 15,000 retail liquor licenses and about 20,000 total licenses statewide, which helps explain why big-box chains typically buy or move an existing license instead of seeking a fresh allocation. Those constraints are the backdrop for Costco’s decision to pursue an intermunicipal transfer.
Local approval cleared the transfer
Cranberry Borough supervisors voted unanimously on Dec. 11 to approve moving the restaurant liquor license that had belonged to Houlihan’s over to the Costco at Cranberry Square Drive, according to the Butler Eagle. Houlihan’s closed in 2023, and shifting its license into Costco’s municipality opened the door for the warehouse club to pursue beer and wine sales.
What a restaurant license requires
Under the state’s Liquor Code, a “restaurant” license goes to a place that has at least 400 square feet of service area and is equipped with tables and seating for at least 30 patrons at one time, according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Code. Legal analysts and PLCB guidance also note that license holders are expected to run a bona fide food operation and secure any necessary local health permits before on-site alcohol service or related sales begin. Those on-site and public health requirements are part of what retailers must factor in when they set up and activate a transferred restaurant license.
No buildout yet, and there are formal next steps
When reporters stopped by the Cranberry Costco this week, they did not spot any visible construction inside or outside the building, Axios noted, and PLCB staff said the license will stay in safekeeping until the holder submits plans for approval. Even with the transfer cleared, the store still has to present layout and operations plans, obtain any needed county health permits, and pass PLCB review before beer and wine sales can start, Axios reported.
Other Pennsylvania Costcos are watching
The King of Prussia Costco also appears in PLCB records with a pending application to transfer a liquor license onto its premises, according to local reporting by Eat Drink Montco. Data aggregators show there are about a dozen Costco warehouses across Pennsylvania, so Cranberry’s move could function as a test case for how other stores in the state approach alcohol sales (POIdata).
Why shoppers care
Customers told local TV crews that the ability to pick up beer and wine during the same run as a major grocery haul is a big draw, and some said they are hoping Costco will undercut state and private sellers on price, according to reporting by WTAE. If the Cranberry store clears all the hurdles, members could see a broader alcohol selection and Costco-style pricing that other regional retailers will likely have to respond to.
Timeline and legal limits
Turning a transferred license into active status can take weeks or months, depending on how long plan reviews and permits take, and state law limits how long a license can sit in safekeeping. Under the Liquor Code, a license in safekeeping may be held for up to four years from the date the board approves the application, after which the license can be revoked if no transfer application is submitted, per state statute.
