Mars distributor has room for beer — and lots of it
While there are plenty of beer distributors in Butler County, Save on Beer, located on Sheraton Drive in Mars, has one major advantage over its competition: size, and lots of it.
“Save on Beer is 13,000 square feet. We’re one of the largest beer distributors around,” said manager and co-owner Dave Piatek. “We have a large selection of craft beer and kegs. It's kind of what we're known for … just the size of our store and the variety.”
The Mars location of Save on Beer opened in 1994 as a spinoff of the original location on McKnight Road in Pittsburgh. According to Piatek, the two Save on Beer locations are connected in name only.
“The lady who originally built this store worked at that one,” said Piatek. “She said she wanted to have her own store, then she built this one. They let her keep the name, but they're not connected. It’s confusing.”
Piatek, who had been working for another beer distributor for several years at the time, saw an opportunity when he noticed that the Mars location was up for sale. The sale was finalized in June 2022.
“When the time came, when this became available, I had other business partners who thought it would be a good investment,” Piatek said. “We purchased it, and I’m one of the owners, but I’m also the manager.”
Due to Pennsylvania restrictions on what alcoholic beverage distributors can sell, you won’t be able to find most types of spirits at Save on Beer, or any other beer distributor. Likewise, you won’t be able to find beer at liquor stores in Pennsylvania, which are operated by the state.
However, what Save on Beer does have, Piatek boasts that it has in abundance.
“We can carry way more varieties of a brewery than some other places because we have the space for it,” Piatek said.
