Two Liquor Licenses Up For Sale In Toms River.

Toms River's population has grown, which means the township can offer up a couple of new liquor licenses this year. Township officials announced late last year that bidding was open for the purchase of two liquor licenses in town, one a distribution license, and the other a consumption license. If you're interested you better hurry, the deadline for submitting bid paperwork is February 7th.

Interested bidders must fill out what's called an Eligibility Form, that certifies that under New Jersey law, they are able to sell alcoholic beverages. All applications are subject to a background check due to the state's ABC, Alcohol Beverage Control law. Each Eligibility Form must also be notarized as well.

So why now? Simple. Toms River's population has grown to over 95,000. According to Toms River Patch, New Jersey law allows a town to issue a distribution license for each 7,500 people, and a consumption license for every 3,000. Patch went on to say that the Toms River Township Council set a minimum bid of $700,000 for the distribution license, and a minimum of $825,000 for the consumption license in the resolutions approving the sales.

Currently,  Toms River has 52 existing liquor licenses, including 29 consumption licenses, 11 distribution licenses, eight club licenses and four licenses used at hotels and motels, according to Deputy Township Clerk Mike Cruoglio.

With that said, if the dream of owning a bar, pub or restaurant has always been inside of you, or the idea of opening a mom and pop liquor store in your neighborhood of Toms River intrigues you, then remember that the deadline for getting that paperwork in is Tuesday February 7th. According to the Asbury Park Press, Council Vice President Matt Lotano urged anyone interested in bidding on a liquor license to contact the township clerk's office, 732-341-1000, ext. 8203, for more information.