Harrisville Borough residents approved the granting of liquor licenses by a relatively close margin during Tuesday’s primary.

When asked if they approved of the granting of liquor licenses within the borough, approximately 60 percent supported the notion.

According to unofficial election results provided by the Butler County Bureau of Elections, 121 votes were cast for the referendum and 80 votes were cast against it.

According to Mayor Gary Hughes, the question was not placed on the ballot by members of borough council. He said the question was likely connected to the building of a new Sheetz gas station at 103 N. Main St.

“Anymore they have those beer caves (inside), I think that’s what’s been on people’s minds, but (the Sheetz representatives) haven’t mentioned it,” Hughes said.

Commissioner Kevin Boozel confirmed Thursday that the Sheetz corporation requested the referendum.

Boozel said he worried about the new Sheetz' potential impact on longtime local beer distributors.

"I'm concerned for the little guys, too," Boozel said.

Though Harrisville has been known as a “dry town” for years, Hughes said the liquor license grant was bound to happen.

“I think it was inevitable it’d become a reality with Sheetz,” he said. “I do feel a little bad for the beer distributor down the road in Forestville.”

Hughes anticipates construction will begin at the beginning of June or July.

Nick Ruffner, public relations manager of Sheetz, said the new building will sell beer and wine when it reopens. The company plans to open the new location in late 2022.

“We are excited to serve our customers in the Harrisville area with this new building and the added availability of beer and wine sales,” Ruffner said.

Hughes said he’s not concerned about negative effects because of the approval.

“I’d be more concerned if we didn’t have the police here,” he said. “It’s a combination of the police, and Sheetz controls their distribution pretty good.”

The new Sheetz is set to be built in four and a half months, according to Hughes. He said he believed some community members would have a negative toward the license approval.

“One woman wrinkled her nose when we told her. It may not sit well with her, but it was bound to happen sooner or later,” he said.

Eagle Staff Writer Paula Grubbs contributed to this article.