Liquor License Auction on Hold in Cherry Hill

An auction for Cherry Hill’s first new liquor license in more than two decades is on hold until some time in the spring, after township officials canceled this month’s planned bid.

Originally scheduled for Feb. 12, the auction, which was set with a minimum bid of $425,000, was put off in the wake of the township council’s decision to temporarily shelve an ordinance that would make drastic changes to where liquor can be sold, township spokeswoman Bridget Palmer said.

“We want to just see that finalized before we go through with the auction,” she said.

The ordinance, which passed a first reading before being set aside, would remove restrictions on having liquor stores as standalone businesses, potentially allowing for sales inside grocery stores or other retailers.

Revisions to the ordinance were necessary, township officials said, in order to put more control on the sale of alcohol, possibly including everything from a minimum square footage requirement to separate cash registers, similar to what’s currently in place at the Wegmans in Mount Laurel.

Those extra conditions were being considered to better strike a balance between convenience and health and safety, Palmer said last month.

“We went back and took a look at it, and felt there might be some additional controls we’d like to add in,” Palmer said. “It was just one of those things we thought…we could do better, and rather than adopt it and amend it later, I think it just makes sense, while we’re doing it, to do it right.”

A revised version of the ordinance will have its first reading Monday night, Feb. 11, as part of the township council's regular meeting, Palmer said, and the council will also consider a resolution reauthorizing an auction, which could take place in March or April.

Two bidders had preregistered for the Feb. 12 auction, Palmer said, but the township will press the reset button on the entire process, requiring new bids ahead of the rescheduled auction.