Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Homer's Hideaway, formerly known as Big Daddy's Sports Bar, Anchorage Road, Warsaw, once again is under new ownership.
This time, according to Excise Officer Patty Fleck at Thursday's Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Commission meeting, the new ownership is making some needed changes.
"It definitely has changed," she said. "It's also much, much cleaner ... A lot more food."
The ABC Thursday first approved the renewal of the beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits for Big Daddy's then approved the transfer of those two permits to James E. Griffith, Fort Wayne, as president of the corporation taking over the business. Griffith has been a resident of Indiana for only four years. Under Indiana alcohol laws, a person must be a resident of the state for at least five years before they can hold an alcohol permit, unless they are incorporated, which Griffith has done in order to get the permit.
Darwin Call, ABC chairman, said the business has changed hands three times since he's been on the ABC. He asked Griffith why he bought the business.
Griffith said, "I like it. I like Warsaw." Though he currently lives in Fort Wayne, he said he looked around the area about a year ago for a business to buy and found Big Daddy's. He has a background in the restaurant business, he said. To his menu, he has added steak and chicken and he is preparing to have a lunch menu. He hopes to get factory workers into his establishment for lunch.
People off the street, ABC member Gordon Vanator said, like himself, don't feel very safe going into that establishment because of its reputation. "It carried a stigma the past six months that wasn't very good," Vanator said.
Griffith said he doesn't tolerate any trouble and is not going to let anyone ruin his business for him because it is his dream.
A transfer of ownership for the beer and wine dealer permit also was approved for Jeff's Convenience Store, North Turkey Creek Road, Syracuse, formerly The Pride Convenience Store.
Renewals approved include:
• Ramada Plaza Hotel, East Center Street, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
• Bennigan's, East Center Street, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
• Service Liquors, South Lake Street, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor dealer permit.
• Knights of Columbus Council 4511, Airport Industrial Park, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor retailer permit.
The ABC also was made aware that the beer and wine retailer permit for Cancun, 219 E. Center St., Warsaw, will be placed in its first year of escrow while the owner tries to sell the license. When and if Carlos Solorzano finds a buyer of the license, Fleck said the permit will be transferred.
All members of the ABC were present Thursday and include Call, Vanator, Fleck and Kenneth Johnson. They meet at 1 p.m. in the county courthouse on the first Thursday of every month.
