Alcohol Board Approves Several Licenses

Satisfied that Bruce A. Miller, Fort Wayne, actually is going to sell his convenience store, Marge's Marina, and beer and wine dealer permit on Diamond Lake, Silver Lake, the Kosciusko County Alcohol Beverage Commission renewed the license Thursday.

Miller's attorney told the ABC Miller had been looking for a purchaser for some time, but had bad luck finding someone to buy it. He finally found Bruce Matthews to buy it all through a purchase agreement. Miller wanted the license renewed so he can then transfer the ownership of the permit to Matthews.

"We're doing everything we can to have this take place as soon as we can," said Miller's attorney.

Matthews has paid $30,000 down for it, Matthews' attorney said. As Matthews has not been an Indiana resident for the past five years, he must find a qualified person to manage the store for him. Matthews moved to Indiana about a week ago and is buying the permit through a limited liability corporation.

The board approved the renewal of the license and keeping it in escrow until the license is transferred from Miller to Matthews.

At the February meeting, excise officer Patty Fleck said Miller had come before the board previously and lied. Miller allegedly tried to sell the license to a man from Chicago, but the Chicago man could not qualify for an alcohol license in Indiana.

In December 2003, the ABC approved the renewal of Marge's Marina's beer and wine dealer permit and approved to hold the permit in escrow for a third year.

At that meeting, Miller said he was selling the property on land contract to Bruce Matthews.

Fleck continued the hearing on the permit to the March 3 ABC meeting to give Miller time to get his legal matters together. Fleck said she wanted to see a petition for transfer of ownership of the permit or Miller's attorney with him. She said Miller told the board he is in the process of selling the business and permit. She gave him until yesterday's meeting to show the board he is properly doing just that.

Two other transfers before the ABC went a little smoother.

The board approved the transfer of stock of the beer, wine and liquor, Sunday sales and wine retailer permits for Hacienda Mexican Restaurant, Lake City Highway, Warsaw. The management of Hacienda bought out the majority stock from the Pennsylvania company that owned it. Hacienda now is owned by its management.

The other permit transfer approved was for the beer and Sunday sales retailer permits for La Pasadita, 520 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw, from Nora Malagon to her brother-in-law Juan Malagon.

Nora now owns and operates Salsas Mexican Restaurant, 820 E. Winona Ave. The board approved her petition for a new beer retailer permit and a Sunday sales retailer permit at Salsas.

"They've been very helpful," Fleck said of the Malagons. "They've done an excellent job in keeping us in tune with everything. I'm a happy little camper."

In other business, the ABC approved the following renewals, with no violations:

• Beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits for Barbee Hotel Bar & Grill, North Barbee Road, Warsaw.

• Beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits for Barbee Landing, North Barbee Road, Warsaw.

• Beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits for Jimmy's Restaurant and Lounge, North Himes, North Webster.

• Beer, wine and liquor retailer permit for Stacy's Sports Inn, Ind. 15S, Leesburg.

• Beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits for Mosaique Restaurant, South Buffalo Street, Warsaw.

• Beer and wine and Sunday sales retailer permits for The Great Wall, East Center Street, Warsaw.

• Beer and wine dealer permit for Village Pantry, South Buffalo Street, Warsaw.

• Beer and wine dealer permit for Marsh Supermarkets, West Pickwick Drive, Syracuse, and at East Buffalo Street, Warsaw.

• Beer, wine and liquor retailer permit for Loyal Order of Moose 1423, West Lake Street, Warsaw.

Members of the commission are chairman Gordon Vanator, secretary Kenneth Johnson, Elim Smith and excise officer Patty Fleck. They meet at 1 p.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw, on the first Thursday of every month.