The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is set to open a new state-owned Fine Wine & Good Spirits store in the State College area, while closing an existing location nearby.
On Wednesday, the PLCB announced plans to establish the new store at 1536 N. Atherton St., within the former Rite Aid space. The new location will replace the current store at 1682 N. Atherton St. in the Village Square plaza, according to PLCB spokesperson Shawn Kelly.
“The next step in the process involves finalizing the lease and obtaining approvals from state agencies,” Kelly told StateCollege.com. “Once those steps are completed, the project can move forward.”
The Rite Aid building, which closed in April, will be renovated for the new store rather than demolished and rebuilt. A timeline for the store’s opening has not been confirmed.
“We aim to open as soon as possible, but each project is different,” Kelly said. “Our goal is to provide State College residents with a beautiful new store that will serve their needs for years to come.”
Typically, employees from the store being replaced are reassigned to the new location, Kelly explained. However, it is still uncertain whether additional staff will be needed for the new store.
The decision to relocate and open new stores is based on customer trends and demographics, Kelly added. The PLCB focuses on finding locations that are easily accessible to the community, with ample parking and high foot traffic.
“We are always evaluating trends and exploring options to best serve our customers,” Kelly said. “It’s a continuous process to ensure that we’re providing the best possible service.”
Centre County currently hosts eight Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores, with four in the immediate State College area. The PLCB has also worked to enhance the shopping experience in the region, including relocating the South Atherton Street store in 2016 and moving the Bellefonte store to a new location in the Weis Markets plaza on Buckaroo Lane.
“We are always looking for new opportunities to improve the customer experience,” Kelly said.
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