Liquor Control Board to hold live public auction of 18 liquor store rights on May 24, 2012

State has already collected $25.9 million in bid fees for 149 state liquor stores

For Immediate Release                                                                                         May 16, 2012

OLYMPIA – On May 24, 2012, the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) will host a new live auction of the rights for 18 state liquor stores. Following the online auction that ended April 20, 2012, top-bidders representing 18 state liquor stores did not pay their posted bid, sacrificing their deposit. Bidders representing 149 state liquor stores have already paid a total of $25.9 million in bid fees to the state.

“This has been a highly successful auction process,” said WSLCB Business Enterprise Director Pat McLaughlin. “We have already collected nearly $26 million in bids plus about one million more in fees.”

Bids in the online auction that ended April 20 totaled $30.75 million. Following the live auction, the WSLCB estimates total bids and fees will exceed $31 million.

Live Public Auction Details

  • Date:               May 24, 2012
  • Time:               Registration at 9:00 a.m. Live bids at 10:00 a.m.
  • Location:         WSLCB Distribution Center, 4401 East Marginal Way in Seattle
  • Format:            Live public auction led by local auction company
  • Bid deposit:     $10,000
  • Successful bidders will win the exclusive right to apply for a liquor license at the current location within its current footprint. All state liquor stores are below the 10,000 square foot threshold for liquor sales established by Initiative 1183.

State Stores to be Auctioned May 24

Store #       City                 Street Address
002             Seattle               1201 2nd Ave.
003             Tacoma             3208 South 23rd St., Suite 1
006             Marysville          6608 64th St. NE, Suite C
032             Enumclaw          1040 Stevenson Ave. #B
042             Seattle               400 Broadway E
044             Spokane            5004 E Sprague Ave. #101
066             Kent                  20514 108th Ave. SE
082             Kent                  23219 Pacific Hwy S
085             Bellevue             15600 NE 8th St. #K-07
093             Kenmore            6820 NE Bothell Way
113             Seattle               118 NE 45th St.
122             Tacoma              7048 Pacific Ave.
132             Lakewood          8217 Steilacoom Blvd. SW
140             Bellingham         1255 Barkley Blvd. #107
151             Ocean Shores     171E Chance Alamer NE #C
159             Kennewick          731 N Columbia Center Blvd.
168             Vancouver          3425 SE 192nd Ave. #114
179             North Bend         320 SW Mt. Si Blvd. 109

More Information
Additional details on the live public auction and comprehensive data on each of the 18 stores being auctioned is available on the WSLCB website at lcb.wa.gov. Look for the “Public Auction” graphic on the homepage.

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