{"id":25503,"date":"2016-12-19T17:30:16","date_gmt":"2016-12-19T22:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=25503"},"modified":"2016-12-19T18:03:55","modified_gmt":"2016-12-19T23:03:55","slug":"httpwww-thevalleyledger-comp1904-490","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=25503","title":{"rendered":"Wise Guys Beer Depot In Allentown Reopens Under New Ownership"},"content":{"rendered":"

Photo: Jodi and Joe Torok, new owners of Wise Guys Beer Depot. Photo provided by Lehigh Financial Group
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\nBeer Distributor Will Be Among First To Offer Single-Bottle, Six-Pack Sales in 2017<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Allentown, Pa<\/em>.\u00a0 \u2013<\/strong> Wise Guys Beer Depot at 2nd<\/sup> and Union Streets in Allentown reopened in late November under new ownership and the store is gearing up to be one of the first in the Lehigh Valley to offer single bottle sales, mixed six-packs and eventually growler refills under the expanded Pennsylvania liquor laws approved earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Jeff Barber of Lehigh Financial Group, who opened the store in 2011, said the business was sold this fall to Joe and Jodi Torok. Wise Guys, which closed in May 2016 after the death of one of Barber\u2019s partners, reopened Nov. 22.<\/p>\n

Joe Torok said he and his family and staff are taking an active approach to working with customers and providing the new opportunities for beer lovers throughout the greater Allentown region. New coolers have been installed to accommodate the six-pack and single-bottle sales and shelving and other equipment is being installed soon to prepare for Jan. 14<\/span>, when the law allows the expanded sales.<\/p>\n

In addition to his wife, Torok said he is assisted by longtime friend Ken Godbolt, who has extensive experience in the beer distribution business, and Torok\u2019s grown children, Justin and Brittany, who will help at the store.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a little bit of an advantage here, I have the square feet for the merchandise and the improvements to the area thanks to the new development will all help,\u201d Torok said, referring to Allentown\u2019s NIZ business development zone and the pending renovation of sites such as the former Phoenix Mills into condominium apartments.<\/p>\n

Lehigh Financial provided the financing for the purchase, Barber said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe has a lot of support there and Ken is a huge asset,\u201d Barber said. \u201cThey are going to have a lot of success.\u201d<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.wiseguysbeerpa.com\/<\/a>
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