AboutRick Dudasik Expertise I can answer questions relating to most areas of the restaurant industry including: starting a restaurant, design, food costing and pricing, site selection, staffing, training, equipment, profit and loss questions, sales training, recipies and many other areas of the industry. I have been in the industry for thirty years and have experience in fast food management, multi unit management, casual dinning management,and ownership. Have helped open over fifteen units throughout the United States.
Question I am a residential real estate agent and have very little knowledge of commercial real estate. My question is if my client is going to rent a building that was once a restaurant and has a liquor license, can the liquor license be a lease included with the rent? Or can you only purchase a license and not lease one in a deal?
Answer Dear Susan,
All of my experience with liquor licenses is that you have to purchase them.
Nearly every state has a limited number of them based on population and you must purchase them from a defunct business,
That is why they are so expensive and hard to come by.
My advise is to check with your state's alcohol dept for specific details as each state has different regulations.
