Two new alcohol licenses were unanimously approved by the Kosciusko County Alcohol Tobacco Commission on Thursday, including one for an entertainment venue that offers a golfing simulator.
The Golf Club of Warsaw LLC, doing business as The Golf Club of Warsaw, 318 Enterprise Drive, Warsaw, applied for a beer and wine retailer - riverfront and lakefront district - permit.
Thaddeus Wallin, owner, said the principle nature of his business is a golf simulator entertainment venue.
Excise officer April Tackett said the orange public notice sign was posted and checked and she would do the inspection of the facility after Thursday’s meeting.
“We’ve been in business for two years now and we have a large clientele that comes from all over northern Indiana. They come from Mishawaka, Plymouth area, down as far south as the Rochester/Manchester area,” Wallin explained. “The permit is going to enable us to continue doing business one, because it’s a needed source of revenue, I would say, but two because as an entertainment venue, especially connected to golf, there’s an expectation that alcohol will be served. People sort of expect to have beer.”
Wallin said they were hoping to serve beer in the same manner as a golf course and any similar venue.
Board member Dan Woods asked Tackett about underage kids coming into the venue.
“With it being an entertainment center, and 70 or 80% of their gross is going to be in golf or in entertainment, they are exempt from the minor loitering rule, just like a real golf course would be,” she said. “If you think about a real golf course, you can walk into the pro shop and you can pay for your golf and get a six-pack from the counter at the same time. All those rules apply to this place, just like they do the other.”
Woods asked about food being served. Tackett said The Golf Club still has to do the minimum food.
“Anytime there’s alcohol served, minimum food has to be available,” Tackett stated.
Wallin said they do have plans in the works for that. They do have most of the food minimum requirements, but are adding some hot food items to supplement that to make sure they’re in compliance.
Tackett reminded the board that the minimum food requirements are hot soup, hot sandwich, coffee, milk and soft drinks for at least 25 people. They have to be readily available.
Board President Alan Alderfer asked Wallin if he’s ever served alcohol before. Wallin said he has not, but he’s worked in a restaurant when he was much younger.
Asked by Alderfer about his employees, Wallin responded, “I had two guys that worked for me, but they are both 20 years old at the moment, so if this goes forward, I’m going to put them - essentially, we’re taking a break this season - but I have one other employee who has served alcohol before, and we’re going to have to make sure his license is up to date, his server license.”
With no remonstrators against the new permit, the board approved the application 4-0.
The county board is a recommending body to the state commission, which will have final say on the licenses being approved.
The second new application was for a beer and wine dealer - grocery store permit from Near Me Smoke & Grocery LLC, doing business as Near Me Smoke & Grocery, 1009 S. Huntington St., Syracuse.
Ranwinder Singh, one of the owners of Near Me Smoke & Grocery, said the principle nature of the business was a convenience and smoke store.
Tackett said the final inspection has been done and the orange public notification sign was posted and checked. Near Me Smoke & Grocery’s alcohol license hearing was continued from Dec. 5 to Thursday because the orange sign had not been posted at least 10 days prior to the Dec. 5 hearing.
On the new permit Thursday, Singh said, “Right now we have a convenient store and smoke shop over there. And now we’re going to have beer and wine over there. That’s what we plan to do over there. We’re definitely going to try to give good services over there.”
The store has been open for three months, he said.
Alderfer asked Singh if he’s ever been involved with serving beer and wine before. Singh said he worked for someone in New York, but never had the license before.
With no remonstrators, the board approved the license 4-0.
License renewals without any violations approved by the county board included:
• Fraternal Order of Eagles #3760, doing business as Lakeland FOE #3760, 12889 N. Kern Road, Syracuse, beer, wine and liquor - fraternal club.
• Lassus Bros. Oil Inc., doing business as Lassus #33, 702 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw, beer and wine dealer - grocery store.
• Ledgeview Brewing LLC doing business as Ledgeview Brewing Co., 975 N. Warren St., Warsaw, wine retailer - restaurant.
• Mada Enterprises LLC, doing business as Barbee Hotel & Restaurant, 3620 N. Barbee Road, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor - restaurant.
• Oakwood Resort LLC, doing business as Oakwood Resort Event Center, 849 E. Lake View Road, Syracuse, beer, wine and liquor - catering hall.
• Oakwood Resort LLC, doing business as Oakwood Resort, 1111 Conklin Hills Drive, Syracuse, beer, wine and liquor - catering hall.
In other business, the board re-elected Alderfer as the board president for 2025.