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Tired of trash and other problems, downtown Warsaw businesses and residents made their voices heard Thursday at the Kosciusko County Alcohol Beverage Commission.
The beer, wine and liquor retailer permit for Hoggle's, formerly at 209 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw, was before the ABC for renewal in February, but since there were remonstrators, the permit hearing was continued to Thursday. The permit has no violations against it and with no violations, the permit usually would be an automatic renewal but the owners of Hoggle's were not at the February meeting.
Laura Kats, co-owner of Hoggle's, said the nightclub closed Jan. 13. She is doing the business' taxes and after they are completed, she and co-owner Troy Reith will decide what they want to do with the alcohol permit. Reith told the ABC they turned over the keys to the building at 209 S. Buffalo St. they were leasing. If they open another bar, they will not be at the same location. Kats said they want to put their permit in escrow until they decide what to do with it.
Carmen Lock, Warsaw Community Development Corp. director, said she was representing merchants of downtown Warsaw who are concerned about the noise, empty alcohol containers and other problems along that part of Buffalo Street. She presented the ABC with a petition of almost 40 names of property owners, businesses and homeowners who are tired of the problems there.
"A lot of those names are real familiar," Lock said.
People are urinating in the flower boxes and at least one local business owner was afraid of the persons lurking around downtown at 4 a.m.
Kats said many of the empty alcohol containers found in the adjacent parking lots and alleys were not alcohol brands Hoggle's carried. Hoggle's closed at 3 a.m. every night so she did not know why there would be loiterers at 4 a.m. Her employees often cleaned up the empty containers and trash after the business closed, even though the items may not have come from Hoggle's.
Elim Smith, ABC member, asked Lock how the problems have been since Hoggle's closed.
"A lot better," said Lock, but the situation has not completely improved.
ABC chairman Gordon Vanator said he received many complaints about the activity downtown and while he didn't want to point any fingers, he said Hoggle's name came up "more often than not."
Kenneth Johnson, ABC member, said he understands people take advantage of public parking lots and leave a mess.
Reith said if they open another business, it won't be in the same location and won't be downtown. He would like a place with its own parking lot.
Lock said she and the others want that part of Buffalo Street, where Hoggle's was, cleaned up. Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins and the Warsaw Police Department have copies of their petition, she said.
"We have nothing against you guys, personally," Lock told Kats and Reith and Hoggle's wasn't the only offending party. The problem, she said, just got to the point where something had to be done.
"The merchants down that way were getting very upset with the vomiting in their door ways. That was the last straw," said Lock.
Kats said she was not aware of any vomiting in merchants' doorways. No one told her, which indicated a communication problem, she said.
Excise Officer Patty Fleck said store owners can call the excise district office to report any complaints they have.
"I think that was part of the problem," said Lock. "People didn't complain to the right people."
"As far as the police department," said Kats, "they did do their job. They were always out there."
"We're going to stay on top of it," said Lock of the problem downtown.
The ABC approved renewing Hoggle's permit and putting it into escrow.
