Alcohol Commission Renews Two Licenses with Violations
Posted
Jordan Fouts-
The Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Board approved two renewals with violations Thursday. Two other renewals with violations were also on the agenda, but representatives of the establishments – Pizza Hut on North Detroit Street in Warsaw and South Shore Golf Club, Syracuse – did not attend the meeting, requiring postponement of their hearings. Board members remarked that such no-shows are unusual. And they approved a new beer, wine and liquor license for Meijer in Warsaw, after receiving assurance that the store would not sell alcohol inside its gas station. They also heard that the store has now set a June 13 opening, and has hired three-fourths of the approximately 300 employees it needs. License renewals approved despite violations were for Pie Eyed Petey’s North in Syracuse and Bennigan’s Grill and Tavern in Warsaw. Each was cited for underage sale during visits by state excise officers accompanied by a minor. Pie Eyed Petey’s owners Barb and Roy Hamer told the board they weren’t present during the sale and objected to the officer’s methods. “I know you guys are doing your job and everything, but it’s clearly marked on the door – don’t come in if you’re under 21,” Barb Hamer said. They also noted this was their first offense at the Syracuse location, they have received several awards of merit from the state and have passed other undercover visits since the Jan. 13 incident. They also had paid the $500 fine. The June 8 citation was the second violation and a $1,000 fine for Bennigan’s. General Manager Mike Stetzel and Food Manager Wendy Hines said they set a zero-tolerance policy after the first violation and fired the bartender who made the sale. The bartender told the officer he thought the underage girl he sold to was a hotel guest, according to the account excise officer April Tackett read. “That’s a bad answer,” Stetzel replied, adding that their policy is to card all guests. The board also heard that, aside from this incident, Bennigan’s has passed all other officer visits since February 2012. Renewals approved without violation were for Claypool Inn, Claypool; Pizza King in both Syracuse and Silver Lake; and Rex’s Rendezvous in Warsaw.
