Owens Fresh Meat Market, 6287 Ind. 15, Leesburg, should have an alcohol license in time for the holidays.
Thursday, Christy and David Owens, owners of Owens Family Farm LLC, doing business as Owens Fresh Meat Market, went before the Kosciusko County Alcohol Commission for a new beer and wine dealer - grocery store - license.
David said the business is a “higher-end meat market. We make and do all of our own, making our brats and stuff like in-house. We do sell small groceries, more speciality-end product more than anything. We’re looking to do this (sell alcohol) to compliment our customer. We bring in a higher customer so the local liquor store is not typically where they would go. They would come to something like us. So it’s kind of a one-stop shop.”
Indiana State Excise Police officer Daniel Vredenburg Jr. asked them how much beer and wine did they plan to carry. David said he did not know.
“More craft and specialty,” Christy said.
“More craft and specialty is the goal,” David agreed.
Christy said they’ve been in operation since February and they’re open daily.
Vredenburg told them he will stop by sometime next week or early the week of Nov. 18 for the final inspection.
David asked Vredenburg what he would be looking for during the final inspection.
“Just making sure the floor plan you submitted to the state matches to how it’s actually set up,” Vredenburg replied.
He said the recommendation for approval by the county board will go to the state board on Nov. 19 for final approval. Once the license received final approval, it’ll be mailed out to them. Owens Fresh Meat Market can start carrying alcohol once the permit shows “active” in the system, Vredenburg said.
“We’re trying to hit the Christmas season with some local breweries,” David said.
Commission member Dan Woods made a motion to approve the license, Mike Hall seconded it and the motion passed 4-0.
David did ask Vredenburg if a person has to be 21 years old to sell the alcohol at the grocery store. For a grocery store, an employee has to be 18 years old to ring the purchase up and the employee doesn’t have to be permitted, Vredenburg said.
The following alcohol licenses without violations were approved to be renewed by the board:
• 201 WM Inc., doing business as West Main Kitchen, 201 W. Main St., Syracuse, beer, wine and liquor river and lakefront license.
• Bar 13 LLC, doing business as Bar 13, 131 N. First St., Pierceton, beer, wine and liquor restaurant license.
• Jham Bar LLC, doing business as Lucky’s Tavern, 560 S. Main St., North Webster, beer, wine and liquor restaurant license.
• Light Rail Coffee LLC, doing business as Light Rail Cafe, 1000 Park Ave., Winona Lake, beer and wine retailer restaurant license.
• Salvatori’s Warsaw LLC, doing business as Salvatori’s, 3605 Commerce Drive, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor 210 supplemental license.
• Wawasee American Legion Post 223 Inc., doing business as American Legion Post 223, 1008 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, beer, wine and liquor fraternal club license.