Liquor Control Board to hold live public auction of six liquor store rights on June 28, 2012

For Immediate Release                                                                                         June 20, 2012

OLYMPIA – On June 28, 2012, the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) will host a live auction for the rights associated with six former state liquor stores. Following the first live auction, top-bidders representing six state liquor stores did not pay their winning bid, sacrificing their deposit. Bidders representing 161 state liquor stores have already paid a total of $29.8 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 $29.8 million in bids plus about one million more in fees.”

Bids in the online auction that ended April 20, and live auction on May 24 have exceeded $31 million.

Live Public Auction Details:

  • Date:               June 28, 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:     $25,000
  • 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 June 28:

Store #       City                    Street Address
042             Seattle                400 Broadway E
082             Kent                    23219 Pacific Hwy S
085             Bellevue             15600 NE 8th St #K-07
140             Bellingham         1255 Barkley Blvd #107
151             Ocean Shores    171E Chance Alamer NE #C           
159             Kennewick          731 N Columbia Ctr Blvd

More Information:

Additional details on the live public auction and comprehensive data on each of the six stores being auctioned is available on the WSLCB website at lcb.wa.gov.

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