PHOENIX – Owning a bar, beer and wine bar, or liquor store in Arizona requires patience, good timing, and cash reserves. Of the 17 liquor licenses available in Arizona, the bar, beer & wine bar, and the liquor store are transferrable. A person may apply for a transferrable license under two circumstances when: 1) the state creates new licenses based on an increase of 10,000 in county population within the past fiscal year; or 2) a licensee decides to sell his/her transferrable liquor license on the open market.
Twenty-nine new licenses will be created for the 2014 liquor license lottery in four counties: Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, and Yuma. Fair market values range from a low of $6,600 for a beer and wine bar license in Yuma County to a high of $200,000 for a liquor store license in Maricopa County. Liquor license values are established by independent appraisers. Much like real estate, the sale price of transferrable liquor licenses in a specific geographic area will determine the fair market value.
The Arizona Department of Liquor will accept lottery entry forms through May 16, 2014. There is a $100 non-refundable entry fee. Two types of entries are accepted; those with a pre-determined business location (disclosed); or entries where a business address has not yet been determined (non-disclosed).
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2014 Arizona Liquor License Lottery Available Licenses and Fair Market Values
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| County | Series 6(Bar) | Series 7(Beer & Wine Bar) | Series 9(Liquor Store) |
| Maricopa County | 9 available | 9 available | 5 available |
| Fair Market Value | $ 70,750.00 | $ 11,450.00 | $ 200,000.00 |
| Pima County | 1 available | 1 available | 0 available |
| Fair Market Value | $ 32,500.00 | $ 8,450.00 | NA |
| Pinal County | 1 available | 1 available | 0 available |
| Fair Market Value | $ 32,800.00 | $ 7,200.00 | NA |
| Yuma County | 0 available | 1 available | 1 available |
| Fair Market Value | NA | $ 6,600.00 | $ 78,150.00 |
When the number of applications exceeds the available licenses in a series, a random selection drawing is held to determine which application(s) will be accepted. The drawing is scheduled at 10 a.m. Monday, June 2, 2014, in the Industrial Commission of Arizona building, 800 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007, 1stfloor auditorium.
Learn more about the 2014 Arizona liquor license lottery by visiting https://www.azliquor.gov/lottery.cfm or contact Lee Hill, lee.hill@azliquor.gov.