Salvatori’s Italian Eatery in Warsaw will be able to soon serve more alcoholic drinks than just beer and wine.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Commission of Kosciusko County on Thursday gave their approval on Salvatori’s new application for a beer, wine and liquor 210 supplemental license. The full-service restaurant at 3605 Commerce Drive, Warsaw, already had a beer and wine license, which they had to give back to the state in order to receive the beer, wine and liquor license. The state commission will still need to give its approval on the 210 supplemental license as the county commission is only a recommending body.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Jeremy McClain, one of the owners of the restaurant, told the commission. “We currently have a beer and wine permit, which allows us to retail beer and wine, obviously, so we strongly feel that the addition of the three-way liquor permit will just expand our current offerings and allow us to serve more guests and provide a better overall dining experience.”
He said they feel the new three-way license will not only enhance their standing not only with their guests but also in the community “as we position ourselves for long-term success here in Warsaw.”
Commission member Dan Woods asked, since Salvatori’s is applying for one of the new permits that only a few cities qualified for, if they ever sold their business would they have to give the license back to the state or could they sell it.
Excise Officer April Tackett said this license was not saleable. McClain said as a condition of getting the new three-way license without carry-out, they had to surrender the two-way license back to the state and the new three-way license could not be sold or transferred.
There were no remonstrators to the application and the commission approved it 3-0, with commission member Alan Alderfer absent.
On Sept. 18, the Warsaw Common Council accepted formal commitments from Salvatori’s and Taqueria El Comal for the supplemental 210 alcohol permits. The permits were part of Indiana House Enrolled Act 1200, that went into effect July 1, for restaurants in certain communities in Indiana. The restaurants applying for the permits have to file an application with the state and file a commitment to the community on the type of business that they’re going to operate. The city council was required to pass an ordinance approving the commitment.
Another new application before the alcohol commission on Thursday was for Dolgencorp LLC, doing business as Dollar General Store #24108, 106 W. Dixie Drive, Silver Lake. They applied for a beer and wine dealer grocery store permit.
Lisa McKinney, attorney with Bose, McKinney & Evans, representing Dollar General, and Harmony Fetters, district manager for Dollar General in Silver Lake, appeared before the commission.
McKinney said the Dollar General was a new location that opened in August.
“Have heard nothing but happiness from customers that, one, they exist, as there really isn’t any outlet for fresh food and ... a lot of grocery items are in this store,” McKinney said. “They would like to be able to carry beer and wine.”
Dollar Generals all have four feet of beer and four feet of wine for the convenience of the customers, she said. All employees go through computer-based learning so they have to pass that 100% before they go out on registers. The registers are prompted whenever a sale for alcohol comes through.
Fetters said the cashier has to verify the person standing in front of them is the person on the ID and that’s done for all customers, not just anyone who looks under the age of 40.
McKinney said there’s also cameras throughout the store, and the alcohol is located within eyesight of the cash registers.
If an employee sells alcohol to someone underage, they are immediately terminated and can never be rehired by Dollar General again.
The commission approved the new license 3-0.
Warsaw Wings LLC, dba Buffalo Wild Wings, 376 Enterprise Drive, Warsaw, had its beer, wine and liquor restaurant permit up for renewal, but had a violation.
In explaining their violation, Jesse Chase, new director of operations for Buffalo Wild Wings, told the commission that they did serve a minor and allowed the minor to loiter in the bar. He said it was an excise officer with an underage individual.
The violation took place on April 25 and they paid a fine of $1,000. The employee who committed the violation is no longer with the company.
Asked about their policy, Chase said, “Our policy is to card anybody that looks to be under the age of 40, and that was not followed that day by the bartender. We have tightened up that policy. We are currently ID’ing pretty much everyone - and when I say pretty much, we do have folks that 100% you know are of age.”
He said they also participate in a secondary program called Bars that they use to keep them in line and do an audit monthly.
“They come in and they send someone in that’s under the age of 25, and they will ask for an alcoholic beverage. And then we’ll make sure that we card that individual. If we do not card them, then we get a red card. If we card them, we get a green card that’s pass, to make sure we’re adhering to our policies,” he said.
Tackett asked if Bars was a private company or a Buffalo Wild Wings in-house system. Chase said it’s a private company that is contracted with multiple chains, including Buffalo Wild Wings.
The commission approved the renewal 3-0.
License renewals without any violations approved by the ATC included:
• Keg Corporation, dba The Keg, 111 W. Van Buren St., Leesburg, beer, wine and liquor restaurant permit.
• Lagos Steakhouse LLC, dba Jimmy’s Restaurant, 104 W. Himes St., North Webster, beer, wine and liquor restaurant permit.
• Lassus Bros. Oil Inc., dba Lassus Handy Dandy #45, 1900 Plaza Drive, Warsaw, beer and wine dealer grocery store permit.
• Lassus Bros. Oil Inc., dba Lassus Handy Dandy #36, 777 Parker St., Warsaw, beer and wine dealer grocery store permit.
• Lassus Bros. Oil Inc., dba Lassus Handy Dandy #40, 4987 N. Ind. 13, Leesburg, beer and wine dealer grocery store permit.
• Mac’s Convenience Stores LLC, dba Circle K #4702372, 606 N. Main St., North Webster, beer and wine dealer grocery store permit.
Tackett said Circle K had a violation but she couldn’t remember if it was for alcohol or tobacco so there was a chance that if the violation was for alcohol that the commission may see the permit again next month.
• Rozella Ford LLC, dba Rozella Ford Golf Club & Lounge, 1700 Rozella Road, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor restaurant permit.