The former Barbee Landing, 3687 N. Barbee Road, Warsaw, has a new name, new look and a new owner who is seeking to make her restaurant more family friendly than the business was before.
On Thursday, Sherie Gallas, owner of Lakelife Bar & Grill, was approved for a new beer, wine and liquor permit with carry-out Thursday by the Kosciusko County Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC).
The previous owner of the property, Joel Stein, had his alcohol license revoked. In September 2019, The Barbee Landing received a violation for serving 20-year-old Ty Brown. Brown was found dead on McKenna Road at 5 a.m. Sept. 2, 2019, after consuming alcohol at The Barbee Landing. On Jan. 7, 2021, the County ATC voted to recommend the denial of the license renewal after hearing from remonstrators for nearly an hour. On Jan. 20, the Indiana ATC upheld the County ATC’s recommendation.
Sherie Gallas, and her husband Joe, doing business as Lakelife, attended Thursday’s hearing for their request for a new beer, wine and liquor license for a restaurant.
Joe said, “I’m sure you are all familiar with the old Barbee Landing. This is that building. We’re obviously taking a way different route than they had before. We’re a family-oriented restaurant.” Kids will be allowed in about 70% of the business area. An outdoor area will serve ice cream, candy and things for the kids. He said they own another business in Illinois, which also is family and kid friendly, and that’s what they want to bring to Barbee lakes.
ATC member and excise officer April Tackett noted there were no remonstrators at the hearing against the new permit.
“If you all remember the old Barbee Landing building, when it was The Barbee Landing, the downstairs was separated from the upstairs because the upstairs was a living quarters,” Tackett said. “They have redone the whole building so now they’re actually going to have an upstairs of their permit premise, as well. So they’re going to take all that out and redo the upstairs so it’s bigger as well.”
Sherie said the upstairs will be for families and all ages, while the downstairs will be 21 and over.
Elim Smith, ATC president, asked if the restrooms were accessible without going through the bar. “You got it,” Sherie responded.
Alan Alderfer, ATC member, asked if the second floor was completely for family. Joe said there was a bar area – about 5% of it – but kids aren’t allowed within 5 feet of it. Tackett said it is basically a bar top with room for about five seats, but was more for the servers.
Sherie said the family space was all upstairs and outside.
Smith asked them how they found the place. Sherie said they live on the lake and she has been coming to the area since she was 8 years old. Joe said their child will be going to school in the area this fall. Sherie said they will be putting their home in Illinois up for sale and making here their home.
She said they’ve owned another successful restaurant, called Stagecoach, in Illinois for the last three years and she owned another one prior to that. She has another person running Stagecoach sufficiently, she said, but she will go back there Tuesdays to check out how things are going there.
Sherie said their original goal was to open by Labor Day, but it was pushed a couple weeks while they try to find workers. She said they have 87 applications and will probably have something like an open house to get everyone hired and trained.
After some discussion between Sherie and Tackett about server training and licenses, the County ATC approved the new beer, wine and liquor license 4-0.
