A request to transfer an alcohol permit to a downtown Warsaw business was approved by the Kosciusko County Alcohol and Tobacco Commission on Thursday.
The transfer of a beer, wine and liquor restaurant license was for Saint Regis Club LLC, doing business as Anthology Whiskey Room, 111 E. Center St., Warsaw.
David Gustafson, sole owner of Saint Regis Club LLC, said, “We’re a restaurant group. We have a couple locations that operate food and beverage restaurants, and we have a whiskey room attached to the restaurant. So, hospitality business, both food and beverage.”
Excise officer April Tackett asked him to explain the transfer.
“We looked to buy this license that had a carryout privilege. We are looking to kind of grow in our space. We’re basically doubling the size, a little more than doubling the size of our current location, so moving down a couple of doors. On Center Street. So it will take up quite a bit more space than we had before, extra seating, and additionally a retail space if we get the carryout privilege for this license,” Gustafson said.
The business will be next to the alley next to Mad Anthony’s Lake City Taphouse.
“This was where Male Fashions was?” Commission member Alan Alderfer asked.
Gustafson said it was, along with some other space.
“So this is a transfer of ownership and location?” Tackett asked, as well as from where did the permit come from.
Gustafson said it was the license held by Shaffner & Shaffner Enterprises.
“It had been in escrow, but I believe they most recently used it at the Recovery Lounge at the Wyndham Hotel,” Gustafson replied.
Dan Woods, commission member, motioned to accept the transfer, Alderfer seconded it and the motion passed 4-0. The board’s decision is a recommendation to the state commission, which will make the final determination.
Tackett asked Gustafson what he was going to do with his other alcohol license.
Gustafson said it was a riverfront district license so the restaurant “and everything will still maintain that. This is basically a new license to move over. We have the restaurant on the lower level - the Japanese restaurant - and then above we have kind of a cocktail bar that we opened during COVID, which is essentially a lobby right now. But, we still sell alcohol in the restaurant, but it’s mainly just restaurant space right now.”
He said they hope to get that opened again, but from a staffing perspective he didn’t have a timeframe.
Also before the commission Thursday was a renewal for a beer and wine dealer grocery store permit with a violation for Mac’s Convenience Stores LLC, doing business as Circle K #4702372, 606 N. Main St., North Webster.
In explaining the violation, Nicole Gibson, district manager, said, “They had a violation Jan. 10, 2023.” She said the employee had an alcohol violation for selling alcohol to a minor. The company had a $1,000 fine, and the employee had a $500 fine. The employee was fired for the violation.
“And then for all of the other employees that are there staffed at our store, they had to take a test with age restriction and had to refresh that course with everybody,” she said.
Alderfer asked if the company has training for its employees on alcohol sales. Gibson said they have age-restriction training that new hires have to take and the training is taken yearly to remind the employees that they don’t sell alcohol without seeing IDs. Anyone who looks 40 and younger has to show their ID to purchase alcohol.
The board unanimously approved the renewal.
Renewals without any violations approved by the commission were:
• Jay Petroleum Inc., dba Pak A Sak #34, 2124 Ind. 13, Pierceton, beer and wine dealer grocery store permit.
• Maria’s Original House of Pancakes LLC, dba Maria’s Original House of Pancakes, 3865 Lake City Highway, unit F, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor restaurant permit.
• Wagon Wheel Theatre Inc., dba Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, 2515 E. Center St., Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor restaurant permit.