Kosciusko County Alcohol Tobacco Commission members Elim Smith, Alan Alderfer, Dan Woods and excise officer April Tackett participated in a virtual meeting Thursday. The meetings return to the old courtroom in the courthouse in August.
A new beer, wine and liquor – restaurant permit was approved for HSB Grill LLC, doing business as Huntington Street Bar & Grill, 704 N. Huntington St., Syracuse.
Tackett noted this is a transfer of ownership, and Travis Luke called in representing the business. Luke said he was a one-third owner along with Doug Stump and Tim Jones.
The three men purchased the property and the business from Steve and Jean Tarner and will continue to operate it as the Huntington Street Bar and Grill. Luke said the manager, the staff and the blueprint of the building are the same.
No one remonstrated against the permit and it was approved.
A renewal for a beer and wine dealer – grocery store license requested by Hazera Begum, doing business as H & E Express Mart, was denied.
Begum called in to the meeting and Tackett questioned him about a recent violation in which alcohol was sold to a minor. Begum said there was a fine and it had been paid.
Smith asked if there was a history of violations and Tackett said there were, in October 2020, August 2020, January 2021 and as recently as June 24.
Smith said the store at 2518 E. Center St., Warsaw, is the place for minors to buy beer. He motioned to deny the renewal, saying violations keep happening at this location.
“The community is fed up with this,” he said. “I just don’t think we should renew this license.”
“They’ve become a public nuisance, due to selling alcohol to minors,” said Alderfer, adding his vote to the denial.
The decision was unanimous, with Wood also voting to deny.
Begun asked for one more chance, saying they took the rules very seriously. Tackett said the renewal would now go before the state commissioners in Indianapolis for a final decision.
The following permits were renewed, with no violations noted:
• DAS Restaurants, doing business as the SS Lillypad II, beer, wine and liquor – excursion boat, 1112 S. Harkless Drive, Syracuse
• K H Brewing Co. LLC, dba Hoplore Brewing, beer, wine and liquor – restaurant, 100 S. Old Ind. 15, Leesburg
• Liefde Cafe LLC, dba Cafe Liefde, beer, wine and liquor – river and lake, 105 W. Main St., Syracuse
• Oakwood Resort LLC, dba Oakwood Inn, beer, wine and liquor – hotel, 702 E. Lakeview Road, Syracuse
• Port Winona LLC, dba Port Winona, beer and wine retailer – restaurant, 807 E. Canal St., Winona Lake
• RT Michiana Franchise LLC, dba Ruby Tuesday, beer, wine and liquor – restaurant, 3308 E. Center St., Warsaw
• RTM Enterprise LLC, dba Miotto’s Main Street Bar & Grill, beer, wine and liquor – restaurant, 132 S. Main St., Milford
• Service Liquors Inc., dba Service Liquors, beer, wine and liquor – package store, 108 S. Lake St., Warsaw.
No one appeared for a new permit requested by George and Angie’s Pub LLC, dba George’s Highlander, beer and wine retailer – restaurant permit, 204 E. State St., Etna Green, and a beer, wine and liquor – restaurant permit, at the same address. The permit was continued to the August meeting.
Troy McKee called to represent Morstor Inc. dba Pizza King, beer and wine retailer – restaurant permits at the following addresses: 806 N. Jefferson St., Silver Lake; 1039 Winona Ave., Warsaw; 719 Huntington St., Syracuse; a beer retailer – restaurant permit at 1727 W. Lake St., Warsaw; and a beer, wine and liquor – restaurant, 1727 W. Lake St., Warsaw.
McKee admitted the orange notice signs were not posted at any of the restaurants 10 days before the meeting and the Pizza King permits were continued to the August meeting, also.
