'Pop-Up Beer Gardens' Hack Pennsylvania's Alcohol License Restrictions

Some restaurants have found ways to circumvent the expense of liquor licenses in Philadelphia by opening pop-up beer gardens operating under a much, much cheaper catering permit. Cue state legislation to curb the practice.

1 minute read

July 24, 2014, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"A quartet of state lawmakers are pushing back on Philly's pop-up [beer] gardens, taking issue with something called an off-premise catering permit that allows vendors to 'cater' alcohol sales at these pop-up gardens for months at a time," reports Jon Geeting.

The key to the controversy is the Prohibition-era policy of county quotas, according to Geeting. "The state caps R licenses at 1 license per 3,000 people per county, and the number of licenses in Philadelphia has actually been declining as the population has grown, as many have been taken out of circulation due to liens and violations."

Washington D.C.'s liquor licenses sell for $9,000-11,000, so Philadelphia's $85,000 liquor licenses constitute a significant barrier to entry into the bar and restaurant business by comparison.

"That's what makes the pop-up beer gardens so innovative," explains Geeting, "a restaurant with a liquor license can obtain an off-site catering permit for $500 to extend that license to another location, and cater one of these temporary outdoor bars for a few months in the summer and fall. The legality of a single permit holder serving the same beer garden for months at a time is what state lawmakers are contesting…"

Tuesday, July 22, 2014 in PlanPhilly

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today