Beginning in the year one thousand nine hundred forty-eight, and annually thereafter, every person desiring to continue to engage in, or hereafter to begin to engage in, the business of wholesale or retail vendor of, or dealer in, goods, wares and merchandise, broker, conducting a restaurant or other place where food, drink or refreshments are sold, or place of amusement in a school district of the first class A, shall on or before the first day of January of each license year, or prior to commencing business in any such license year, procure a mercantile license for his place of business, or if more than one, for each of his places of business in the school district from the receiver of school taxes or school treasurer, who shall issue the same upon the payment of a fee of two dollars ($2) for a wholesale license or a retail license, and four dollars ($4) for a wholesale and retail license for his place of business, or if more than one, for each of his places of business in the school district for each license year. Such license shall be conspicuously posted at the place of business or each of the places of business of every such person at all times.