EBENSBURG -- After canceling a public hearing on its attempts to get a liquor license here, Sheetz is causing local beer sellers to worry that they might soon see a dip in sales.

Sheetz, which recently acquired a liquor license in Carrolltown, said Tuesday it is looking to start selling beer and wine at any of its stores that it can.

For local business owners who have to compete with Sheetz, though, that could spell disaster.

Across the street from the Sheetz on West High Street in Ebensburg, Justin Yahner owns a beer store that his grandfather opened in the '70s.

"Almost every single person that's walked in this door today I know personally," he said Tuesday.

For him, it's not about the money.

"Nobody's getting rich in the beer business around here," he said.

After hearing that Sheetz wanted to acquire a license, Yahner posted on Facebook:

I love what I do and I love craft beer. I've met a million great people along the way. My $ ?and soul have been poured into my business and I'd like to keep it going!

He said he plans to attend any public hearing on the matter, but Ebensburg Borough Manager Daniel Penatzer said there's not much they can do about it.

"People need to understand that in all these cases, local governments are somewhat constrained," he said.

That's because, Penatzer said, the state only lets them deny licenses for reasons related to what the state calls "health and welfare."

That's what happened in Homer City, where Sheetz is currently appealing a decision that denied one of their stores a liquor license.

If the decision doesn't go his way in Ebensburg, Yahner said he's worried for his future.

"We run a pretty cool little business," Yahner said. "But there's no way I can sit here and compete with a Sheetz."

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