He and his younger brother, Robert Trone, own Total Wine & More. For those who have never stepped foot into a Total Wine – and, there are more than 85 stores in 15 states, including Maryland and Delaware, but not Pennsylvania - they are best described as liquor superstores.
Total Wine claims to be the nation's largest independent retailer of wine.
“A lot of folks commonly call it a Toys R Us for adults,” said David Trone who stopped by Pennlive's offices Feb. 13.
The 25,000 square-foot stores do the unthinkable in Pennsylvania – they carry wine, liquor and beer under one roof. The inventory? More than 8,000 wines, 3,000 spirits and 2,500 beers.
If ever someone could share a potential roadmap for what a privatized liquor system in Pennsylvania might look like, it very well could be Trone.
This year, Total Wine expects to earn $1.5 billion in sales and will open 11 new stores including a handful in Washington state which privatized liquor sales last year.
Trone grew up in Pennsylvania and owns a home on Lake Meade in Adams County. His first foray into selling booze was operating a beer distributor on 29th Street in Harrisburg.
In 1992, according to the Gazette in Maryland, Trone was indicted by a Pennsylvania grand jury on charges that he used "straw" companies to control a chain of family-owned beer stores. The indictment later was dropped by then-Pennsylvania attorney general Ernie Preate.
"After investigating, the state realized that we did not violate any laws and we continued to operate as we did before," Trone said.
Around that time, the Trones opened their first Total Wine in Delaware. It is clear the company has a vested interest in returning to Pennsylvania, although David Trone refuses to speak specifically about plans or the number of stores they would open.
He said Total Wine would target metropolitan areas in the state, including the Harrisburg area, but would not open in rural areas.
“It's something I would personally like to get done, and it would be a fantastic business opportunity. It's a lot easier to open a store in Pennsylvania than Seattle,” Trone said.
He makes no secret about the fact Gov. Tom Corbett's administration has peppered him with questions about the idea of a privatized system “because we have been around the block.”
Last month, Corbett proposed a privatization plan designed to close the state's liquor stores and open up sales to supermarkets, convenience and big-box stores and beer distributors.
Trone called the governor's initiatives a “fantastic first step to move the dialogue forward.” While Trone praised the plan because it will lead to increased selection and convenience and better prices for consumers, he also said it needs some tweaks.
Under Corbett's proposal beer distributors could sell six-packs of beer, but Trone said they also should be permitted to sell single bottles, which would help the already booming craft beer market. In addition, Trone said licenses should be made available without limits and businesses who hire displaced workers from the state-run stores should receive larger tax credits.
As for the state's beer distributors, many who have voiced concerns about Corbett's plan, Trone called Corbett's proposal a home run for distributors who would have the ability to sell beer, wine and liquor.
If legislation passes, Trone said he thinks the time table should be aggressive, otherwise bureaucrats will stall on the plan. He noted that in Washington state it took seven months to privatize liquor sales.
"I think the governor has put together a fantastic plan ... It's just an audacious plan to change this," he said.
