Toms River's Liquor Licenses Fetch $500K, Township Has 53 Total

If you’re looking to obtain a liquor license in Toms River, you’re out of luck — they’re all taken.

The township has a total of 53 liquor licenses in use, and according to Laurie Knemoller, of the township clerk’s office, there aren’t any more available.

“That’s the number of active licenses right now. Some people have them in their back pocket and aren’t using them, but there isn’t currently anything available right now,” she said.

According to the clerk’s office, there are seven “in pocket” licenses that have been sold, but are not currently in use.

The town has 29 consumption licenses in use, with 11 distribution (liquor stores) licenses, eight club licenses (Elks Club, American Legion, etc.) and five hotel/motel licenses, all in use.

According to the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the number of licenses to sell alcohol for consumption on a licensed premises (restaurants and bars) and to sell alcohol for off premise consumption (packaged goods) within a municipality is determined based upon the population. A municipality may issue one consumption license for every 3,000 of its population. As to distribution licenses, which allow the sale of alcohol for off premise consumption, a municipality may issue one license for every 7,500 of its population.

Toms River had about 88,791 residents in 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Newark, on the other hand, had 277,140 residents in 2010, and currently has about 600 licenses.

Knemoller said most licenses in Toms River sell between $500,000 and $600,000, and are either sold by the township or through a private agreement between the buyer and seller.

The last license sold from the township cost $600,000, and was sold last year.