Beer wholesaler opens 300,000-square-foot warehouse in Salem, more than 100 jobs anticipated

Sep. 13—Happy hour started a little early for Frank Fuhrer III and his guests Wednesday afternoon.

It's only appropriate — Fuhrer was cutting the ribbon on a new 300,000-square-foot warehouse for his beer and soda pop distribution business, so getting a few coolers full of beer was a matter of walking down the hall.

"My father passed away last year, but he always had a saying, that you're either moving forward or moving backward," Fuhrer said. "Opening this new building is definitely moving forward."

The $55 million warehouse is expected to employ more than 100 people.

It will give the distributor easy access to the Routes 22 and 66 corridors.

Work began last summer on the distribution center, located off Boquet Road near the northern end of the Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass turnpike spur in Salem.

Fuhrer Wholesale primarily distributes beer and soda pop from 75 suppliers throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania, ranging from national brands such as Bud Light to local craft beer such as Westmoreland's Helltown Brewing.

Fuhrer said they made the decision to build in Westmoreland County after running out of space at their home base on Pittsburgh's South Side.

"We'd been approached with some business opportunities, but we didn't have the space to expand," he said.

Fuhrer Chief Financial Officer Jake Wrigley said the company paid about $7,600 in school district taxes and $2,500 in property taxes between the county and Salem Township.

Township Supervisor Kerry Jobe said an assessment of the building needs to take place before the full financial impact of the warehouse is determined.

"It's definitely a big plus," township Supervisor Ken Trombetta said. "We're very happy to have them here."

Fuhrer thanked Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, for her help in bringing the project to fruition.

"This shows how government and business can work to get things done," Ward said. "When businesses like this open, it gives us a lot of practice in trying to cut through the red tape."

After starting the business in 1981, Frank B. Fuhrer continued to expand over the years. In 2021, the company sold 15.5 million cases of beer, and has more than 300 employees.

Wrigley said the building should be fully operational by November, following the installation of a few additional pieces of equipment.

For more on the company, see FuhrerWholesale.com.

Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Patrick by email at pvarine@triblive.com or via Twitter .