Wegmans’ attorney expects decision soon on liquor license application

By Jennifer Thomas

- jthomas@centredaily.com

Wegmans is still hammering out the details of a restaurant liquor license transfer for the State College location on Colonnade Way, an attorney for the grocery store chain said this week.

“We’re hoping that we get a response from the (Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board) in the next month or so,” said Pittsburgh attorney R.J. O’Hara.

Yes, he knows — better than anyone — that it’s been 16 months since Wegmans proposed plans to offer patrons the ability to have beer, wine and liquor with their meals at the 200-seat Market Cafe. The location would allow carry-out beer as well.

O’Hara said that the transfer has been opposed by a couple of local distributors and by the Malt Beverage Distributor Association.

“They think we’re going to just be a distributor despite the fact we’re a huge restaurant,” O’Hara said. He said a similar venture has opened at a Wegmans location in Erie.

“We regard that as a positive indication from the LCB.”

Wolf Furniture reducing hours

It’ll be lights out at Wolf Furniture in an attempt to be a little more environmentally responsible.

Starting March 3, the furniture retailer plans to trim two hours per day — yes, you read that right — from its hours of operation, said company President Doug Wolf.

The move is intended to help the retailer reduce consumption of electricity and natural gas at its eight locations, including the one at 138 Valley Vista Drive in Patton Township.

“There’s no reason to use 500,000 kilowatts that you don’t have to,” Wolf said, adding that each retail showroom is more than 40,000 square feet with thousands of lighting fixtures.

As of March 3, the store will open an hour later on weekdays — at 11 a.m. — and close an hour earlier, at 8 p.m. On Saturdays it will open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Sunday hours will remain 1 to 5 p.m.

Wolf said the company will try the reduced hours until at least the fall, but he expects this to be a permanent change.

“A big retail operation uses a lot of resources,” he said. “This looked like something we could accomplish without disturbing our customers.”

Overall, he said the savings in electricity between all the locations would likely amount to about $50,000. The bigger picture is about being more environmentally conscious, he said.

“It’s a two-edged sword. We think it may cost us a little business,” he said. “We are hoping we can serve our customers.” The move will allow personnel to get home earlier at night without cutting their hours.

He said that plans are to staff the stores more heavily during prime times to avoid reducing employee hours.

Calling off the rumors

The rumor mill concerning restaurants closing appears to be in overdrive this week. I’ve heard from some of you that not one, but two, of our local chain restaurants are closing.

But there appears to be no truth to what you’re hearing.

T.G.I. Friday’s, 1215 N. Atherton St., and the Quaker Steak & Lube, 2200 N. Atherton St., have no plans to close, restaurant representatives said last week.

“Totally not true. Absolutely not,” said Maureen Gallagher, executive director of marketing for the Friday’s. “That couldn’t be further (from) the truth.”

She said the restaurant has been actively marketing specials and working to line up entertainment for happy hours.

It’s the same scenario at the Quaker Steak.

“We don’t plan on going anywhere,” said the restaurant’s owner Larry Salone. “We still think we have good food and good volume.”

He said the economy will likely make things tight for restaurant owners — and everyone in retail — across the county.

Savvy no more

Savvy State College, 153 S. Allen St., announced plans to close on March 28 after about nine months in business.

Customers holding gift cards should use any remaining balance before the store closes.

A going-out-of-business sale starts Monday, with items marked up to 50 percent off.

Store owner Dana Marsh said that the store was sustaining itself but did not fulfill her vision as a full-time venture. That meant limited hours of operation in the face of declining downtown traffic, with the exception of football and select big traffic weekends, she said.

Marsh opened the store last June “to bring uniqueness to a cookie-cutter world,” she said.

Savvy offered gifts, jewelry, accessories and home decor, often crafted by local artisans and craftspeople. She plans to continue to offer some merchandise online at www.savvystatecollege.com.

Store hours are 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Other hours can be arranged by appointment by e-mailing dana@savvystatecollege.com. Jennifer Thomas can be reached at 231-4638.̣