Aramark seeks restaurant liquor license for Union Yards at Chester stadium

Chester city officials heard a public presentation Thursday from Aramark representatives seeking approval to transfer a restaurant liquor license to Union Yards, an event venue across from the stadium at 12 Rainey Street.

Ellen Freeman, an attorney with Kruger Henry representing Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services LLC, told council members Aramark currently operates alcohol at the venue using off-premises catering permits and manages about 27 liquor licenses in Pennsylvania. "A restaurant liquor license would allow the same categories of alcohol — wine, beer and spirits — without the administrative burden of pulling those catering permits for every event," Freeman said, adding the company intends to maintain its existing event-focused hours.

Freeman said Aramark’s current operations typically open roughly three hours before a stadium event (about 4:30 p.m. on event days) and close by about 10:30 p.m. She noted a Pennsylvania restaurant liquor license would legally permit sales between 7 a.m. and 2 a.m. but testified Aramark has no plans to expand hours. Freeman also said the company will apply for a Sunday sales permit and that all alcohol servers will complete the required seller/server training and pass the test to be certified.

Ken Shuster, the city solicitor, asked procedural questions and requested that Aramark submit the transfer application, the public-notice placard, proof of advertisement and the transcript for the city record. Freeman said the company would file the transfer application with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board once the council passes a resolution and that PLCB review typically takes about three months; she described the orange public notice the PLCB posts at a premises during its investigation.

Council members asked about compliance history and neighborhood impacts. Freeman acknowledged Aramark has had some infractions at large public venues in the past, including occasions involving sales to minors, but said the company has not faced a PLCB nonrenewal hearing and that most infractions are administrative and addressed through fines and corrective measures. "If that's something you're interested in knowing, I could pull their license history," Freeman said when asked for more details.

Deputy Mayor Portia West noted a nearby church — between Central Avenue and Edward Street — that she described as a historical landmark where Dr. Martin Luther King attended when he was in school in the area, and asked that proximity be noted. Freeman and the solicitor explained the PLCB will measure distance to any "restrictive institution" (churches, schools, playgrounds): if a church falls within 300 feet it may have protest rights during the PLCB hearing.

Council members also asked about local hiring. Kevin Carney, identified as Aramark’s general manager at Subaru Park, said the company has run job fairs, relied on many temporary workers after opening last June and would like to hire more permanent staff from Chester as positions become available: "We ... would love the opportunity to hire more, you know, from the city of Chester," Carney said.

Mayor Stefan Roots clarified the council’s next step: the resolution authorizing the transfer would be considered at the council meeting on Wednesday; if the council passes the resolution, Aramark would then submit the application to the PLCB, which would post notice and investigate. The solicitor closed by asking Aramark to provide application documents and proof of publication to the court reporter and to the city for the record, and the hearing was concluded.

The council had only a presentation and procedural stipulations at the hearing; no final license transfer or PLCB decision occurred at this meeting. The council vote on a resolution is scheduled for Wednesday, after which the PLCB’s review and any protests or hearings would follow.