Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
It may be a gentlemen's club, but Stimmelators is now in the hands of a woman.
Thursday, the Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Commission unanimously approved the transfer of stock of the beer, wine and liquor retailer permit of Night Shift of North Webster Inc., doing business as Stimmelators Gentlemen's Club, from Sam Stimmel to his daughter Tracy Stimmel.
No remonstrators spoke against the transfer.
Stimmelators is at 114 E. Washington St., North Webster.
The transfer of stock came before the ABC Jan. 6, but excise officer Patty Fleck had no official word from the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission on the renewal of the permit as of the local board meeting. Fleck postponed the hearing to the Feb. 2 meeting.
According to a copy of the transcribed minutes from the state commission's meeting Jan. 4, Stimmelator's permit renewal was approved "on the condition of the transfer (of the permit) and that he (Sam Stimmel) have no activity or no involvement in the permit, unless he would be cleared from what is going on in Texas right now with the law."
At the November Kosciusko County ABC meeting, a tie vote of 2-2 was reached by the board on the renewal of Stimmelators Gentleman's Club's permit. The permit renewal was then forwarded to the state.
The fate of Stimmel's Indiana permit came into question in October after Indiana Excise Officer Sgt. Greg Wiese questioned Stimmel about an alcohol license permit he applied for in Victoria County, Texas, in September 2003. To apply for an alcohol permit in Texas, an applicant must be a resident of the state for at least one year prior to applying for the license. Stimmel, on his application, provided a Texas address. Stimmel admitted at the October meeting that he gave false information to Texas and is a Hoosier.
Tracy Stimmel has been learning the business for the past two to three years to buy the club from Sam. It was decided the best way to purchase the club was through a stock purchase. On Nov. 3, Tracy applied for a transfer of stock of the business subject to the renewal of Stimmelators' license.
Stimmelators has had only three violations in the past 17 years.
ABC chairman Gordon Vanator told Tracy, "Stay within the law and we won't have to visit with you except for your renewal."
Attorney Steve Snyder, representing Tracy, said Tracy understands she will be the sole owner of the business. If Sam is cleared of the charges against him in Texas, Sam then may help Tracy with the business, but not until and if that occurs.
"Two-hundred shares of stock, that's all there is?" asked Elim Smith, ABC member. Snyder replied that is correct and there are no plans to issue any more stock.
Tracy said she is willing to go forward with the state's and the local board's recommendations. Tracy owning the business is what they have been working towards all along, she said.
"This was the direction we were going all the time," said Sam.
