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Cash-strapped fire company buys tavern to raise funds
AVIS, Pa. (AP) - A volunteer fire company in central
Pennsylvania has taken a novel approach to fund raising: Instead of
bake sales and bingo games, they decided to buy a tavern.
The Avis Fire Co. purchased the South Avis Inn last month and
plan to expand the tavern to include a restaurant.
"We're trying to diversify our income. It's getting harder and
harder to raise money," said Dave Winkleman, company president.
Income from weekly bingo games and an annual carnival has shrunk
in recent years. Faced with dwindling funds and increasing costs,
the fire company in Clinton County started looking for ways to
generate income.
The inn purchase was completed June 18. Due to regulations of
the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, a separate organization had
to be formed to run the inn, so the Avis Fire Co. Civic Association
was created. The fire company bought the building and leases it to
the civic association, which runs the tavern and rents the
apartments in the building.
The bylaws of the civic organization state that its sole purpose
is to raise money for the fire company. The fire company paid
$100,000 for the building and $80,000 for the liquor license and
inventory.
To buy the inn, the fire company used some money from its bingo
fund and took out a mortgage. Rental income from the building's
five apartments - four of which are already rented - is enough to
make the mortgage payments, Bowers said.
Winkleman said the dining room will be open to the public for
lunch and dinner. Plans are to offer the dining area, which seats
approximately 125 people, as a rental facility for wedding
receptions, class reunions and other gatherings, Winkleman said.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Pennsylvania has taken a novel approach to fund raising: Instead of
bake sales and bingo games, they decided to buy a tavern.
The Avis Fire Co. purchased the South Avis Inn last month and
plan to expand the tavern to include a restaurant.
"We're trying to diversify our income. It's getting harder and
harder to raise money," said Dave Winkleman, company president.
Income from weekly bingo games and an annual carnival has shrunk
in recent years. Faced with dwindling funds and increasing costs,
the fire company in Clinton County started looking for ways to
generate income.
The inn purchase was completed June 18. Due to regulations of
the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, a separate organization had
to be formed to run the inn, so the Avis Fire Co. Civic Association
was created. The fire company bought the building and leases it to
the civic association, which runs the tavern and rents the
apartments in the building.
The bylaws of the civic organization state that its sole purpose
is to raise money for the fire company. The fire company paid
$100,000 for the building and $80,000 for the liquor license and
inventory.
To buy the inn, the fire company used some money from its bingo
fund and took out a mortgage. Rental income from the building's
five apartments - four of which are already rented - is enough to
make the mortgage payments, Bowers said.
Winkleman said the dining room will be open to the public for
lunch and dinner. Plans are to offer the dining area, which seats
approximately 125 people, as a rental facility for wedding
receptions, class reunions and other gatherings, Winkleman said.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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