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The state-run Wine and Spirits Store in downtown Lock Haven has been bringing people -- shoppers -- downtown for the past 43 years.
The beneficiaries: Surrounding merchants and the community.
So here we go again: The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) has voted to move that store off Main Street and into a shopping plaza off Walnut Street.
We remind the PLCB of The Downtown Location Law -- Act 72 of 2012 (Senate Bill 276).
That law requires the state Department of General Services (which handles all purchase and leasing of property) to consider "locating or rehabilitating facilities in downtown areas whenever agencies consider building or leasing new office space."
It further says the state agency, in its considerations, "should look at the compatibility with the economic revitalization plan for the downtown area, local zoning ordinances, the likelihood of natural disasters and preventive and emergency response measures, and comments from existing public and private sector organizations committed to downtown revitalization and historic preservation."
Arguing that the move is necessary to "enhance customer experience" is hogwash.
What better value than having the store continue to drive traffic and customers into the heart of downtown? Obviously the state Legislature felt that way -- and we believe it continues to feel that way -- with passage of The Downtown Location Law.
Downtowns are coming back. Lock Haven in particular is seeing a surge of new businesses.
So what's PLCB want to do? Decrease downtown customer traffic.
Real smart.
They say the current store isn't welcoming.
Here's the PLCB's statement: "They have determined that it is in our best interest and the community's best interest to relocate the Lock Haven store and provide a modern retail environment that's more welcoming and serves the community better."
Have the three PLCB board members even been to downtown Lock Haven?
Tim Holden, Mike Negra and Mary Isenhour, we invite you to visit Lock Haven.
This store at 137 East Main St. had $2,739,431 in total dollar sales in 2020, PLCB records show.
That's right: More than $2.7 million.
Just think of the spinoff of that to merchants and restaurants near the store.
The local store is ranked 316th out of 614 total in Pennsylvania. Not bad for little old 38,000-population Clinton County.
Indeed, this store had more sales than others in North Reading, a section of Allentown, on Benner Pike in nearby Centre County, and even Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia.
State Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, R-Clinton/Centre, said she advocated with the PLCB to keep the liquor store downtown due to the input she received through conversations with constituents, community leaders and business owners.
Mayor Joel Long wants the store kept downtown, too. We also are standing up for downtowns.
We hope more people and organizations do, too.
This store is an anchor for downtown.
There are other options.