Politics & Government

Sweetwater Grille Seeks to Reinstate Liquor License

The Sewickley restaurant filed for a license renewal in June but missed the deadline, according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

 

A Sewickley restaurant and grill has been operating without a liquor license for months, according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Owner Jim Zipparo couldn't be reached for comment Monday or Tuesday, but an employee at the said the Italian eatery is working to get its license reinstated. 

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“We’re trying to get it back. I can’t say when, but it’s in the works,” he said.

Stacey Witalec, spokeswoman for the PLCB, said the Sweetwater Grille’s liquor license is considered “inactive” after the restaurant filed for a license renewal in June but missed the deadline. Inactive status means the license has not been renewed or validated and not permitted to operate on temporary authority. The renewal would have been valid through May 2013.

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Witalec said the Bureau of Licensing rejected the renewal because the license was filed late. She said the restaurant also failed to obtain tax clearances from the state Department of Revenue and the Department of Labor and Industry.

“Our board then reviewed the recommendation from licensing and voted to refuse the renewal,” Witalec said. “At this point, the license remains refused and the licensee cannot operate, cannot transfer or reactivate the license.”

The inactive license hasn't gone unnoticed. Several online restaurant reviews mention the lack of a license.

Witalec said the license rejection doesn’t mean the  cannot pursue a liquor license. She said the restaurant can appeal to the Court of Common Pleas.

“If they choose not to appeal, then the license is considered invalid and it cannot be sold or transferred at any point and is essentially passed out of existence.” 


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