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Alcohol Board approves club permit for restaurant in 'dry' Craighead County Thursday, Oct 18, 2007 By John Lyon Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board voted Wednesday to approve a private club permit for a Jonesboro restaurant, making it the 21st business in Craighead County - technically a dry county - to be granted a license to serve alcoholic drinks. The board also voted to allow a Fayetteville liquor store to transfer its permit to a new location; to deny a club permit to a proposed club in Jefferson County; and to allow a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Flippin to sell wine and beer. The board voted to overturn a decision by ABC Director Michael Langley that denied a private club permit to Ruby Tuesday on Kazi Street in Jonesboro. General manager Candace Chronister told the board she receives three to five requests for alcoholic drinks daily from customers, many of whom are guests at hotels within walking distance of the restaurant. As required by state law, a nonprofit corporation will operate the club, Chronister said. Ruby Tuesday is involved in numerous charitable activities and will donate an annual $5 club membership fee to charity, she said. Chronister submitted 1,219 signatures of people who support alcohol sales at the club. The Rev. Steve Jacobson, pastor of the Friendly Hope Baptist Church in Jonesboro, and Bob Hester, director of the Arkansas Family Coalition, testified in opposition to the permit. They argued that the area is adequately served by existing clubs; that serving alcohol at the restaurant would exacerbate traffic problems in the area; that Ruby Tuesday is a for-profit business; and that the people of Craighead County have voted to make it a dry county. Hester submitted signatures of 1,764 people who oppose the permit. "Jonesboro does not need more alcohol for any reason," he said. The hearing became tense at times, with Board Chairman Ron Fuller telling Jacobson and Hester he was growing "frustrated" with arguments he felt were repetitive and fell outside the scope of the board's authority. The board cannot overturn the Legislature's decision that private clubs may exist in dry counties, Fuller told them. At one point, Jacobson made a suggestion as to how the hearing should proceed, and Fuller cut him off, saying, "Rev. Jacobson, I make the decisions here." The vote was 4-1, with Logan Hampton Jr. casting the lone vote against overturning the director. Also Wednesday, the board overturned the director's decision to deny an application by Premiere Wine & Spirits of Fayetteville to transfer its beer permit from College Avenue in Fayetteville to East Huntsville Road, just east of the Fayetteville city limits. Owner George Bethell said the location east of the city has been occupied by a liquor store since 1985, so moving his store there would not be much of a change for the neighborhood. Lt. John Moore of the Washington County sheriff's office testified that the store would be in an island of county land surrounded by Fayetteville that is not normally patrolled by the Sheriff's Office, so if deputies had to be dispatched there, the response could be slow. Karen Stewart, who lives near the site, testified that the last liquor store to occupy the location has been closed for nearly six months, and she said the quality of life in the area has improved greatly since then. The vote was 3-1, with Hampton voting no and J.J. Vigneault, a friend and former college classmate of Bethell, recusing. The board unanimously upheld the director's denial of a private club permit for a proposed club on U.S. 270 near White Hall. About 50 people attended the hearing to express opposition to the club, including state Sen. Jerry Taylor, D-Pine Bluff, and state Rep. Toni Bradford, D-Pine Bluff. Opponents said the site for the club, which would operate under the name Saks II, is the site of a dilapidated house that is near occupied houses. Bradford said she had received 33 letters opposing the club and none supporting it. The applicant, Stephen Parsons, said he would remodel the building and would erect a fence around the property. He not present any letters or petitions and did not call any witnesses in support of the club. The board also overturned the director's denial of an application by Wal-Mart Supercenter in Flippin for a permit to sell beer and wines from small wineries. General manager Timothy Spinks said the beer and wine would be displayed in the back of the store. Ron Engels, owner of the nearby store Beer and Ice, said that if the Wal-Mart store begins selling beer, his store will not be able to compete and will be driven out of business. Fuller told Engels the board cannot deny an application to prevent competition. The Rev. Jack Jefferson, associate pastor of Flippin Christian Church, said beer and wine are not appropriate in a family store that sells toys and other items for children. The vote was 3-2, with Hampton and Patricia Cohee voting in the minority. |
