Alcohol Board Hears About Hacienda Violation, Tables Syracuse Business’ New Application
Alcohol Board Hears About Hacienda Violation, Tables Syracuse Business’ New Application
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David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Alcohol Board Hears About Hacienda Violation, Tables Syracuse Business’ New ApplicationA Warsaw restaurant with a violation went before the Kosciusko Alcohol Tobacco Commission Thursday, while a new business in Syracuse seeking a liquor license was continued to May because no one showed up at the meeting.
HMR Acquisition Co. Inc., doing business as Hacienda Mexican Restaurant, 3805 Lake City Hwy., Warsaw, was up for a renewal of its beer, wine and liquor - restaurant license Thursday. As the business has had a violation since their license was last approved, representatives of the restaurant had to appear before the local board to explain the violation.
Scott Bedwell, an alcohol and tobacco industry consultant for Bose McKinney & Evans LLP and a retired Indiana state excise officer, appeared with Tammy Boetsma, CEO of HMR.
Bedwell said there are 14 Haciendas in Indiana with over 1,200 employees. “We take checking IDs very seriously. We have weekly trainings, programs that they meet with each employee,” he said.
Boetsma said they have manager meetings weekly.
“So, selling to minors is not something that we want to do,” Bedwell stated. “This was just an accident. The manager, unfortunately - not an excuse - they got busy, had a lot going on and they sold to a minor.”
Boetsma said they take the violation “very seriously” and she’s a majority shareholder of the company. She’s never held a personal liquor license herself, but she said she understands the violation is very serious and she feels responsible for the company’s 1,200 employees.
“The manager on duty walked in. Her boss’s boss was there, and it isn’t an excuse, but she did serve a minor. It’s inexcusable. She has been written up. If this happens again - which it will not - she will no longer be with our company,” Boetsma said.
The employee is going on 20 years with the company.
“We have 62 managers; 61 of them have risen up from the hourly rates. We have one outside hire, so we pride ourselves on that,” she said.
Hacienda has a comprehensive training program for both their hourly employees and salaried managers. Boetsma said they have now revised their training materials to include the ServSafe Alcohol Training, of which the manager with the violation has already completed. Managers without the training will undergo it. Boetsma said she will even take the training.
She apologized to the board for the violation and said there was no excuse for it.
Excise officer April Tackett asked if there was a fine for the violation from the ATC. Bedwell said it was $2,000 and it’s been paid. The employee with the violation was fined $100-$150, and it’s been paid.
The license renewal was approved 4-0.
A new application for a beer, wine and liquor - riverfront and lake district license before the alcohol board was for Blank Slate LLC, 105 W. Main St., Syracuse. No one from the company was present at the meeting.
Tackett said the applicant also did not have their orange sign posted so the matter would have to be continued anyway. The orange sign has to be posted at the front of the business where the public can easily view it and it lets the community know the business is applying for an alcohol license.
She said she will send the applicant a letter about the hearing being continued and why.
Gurpander Singh appeared before the board for the transfer of a beer and wine dealer - grocery store license for United Deli, 7487 E. Old 30, Pierceton. He is the owner of the company and said he has two gas stations in Kosciusko County.
While United Deli is a new business for Singh, Tackett said he was working under the old license until the transfer was approved. Singh agreed with Tackett that he was currently selling alcohol under the old license as permitted. Tackett said the final inspection was completed and the orange sign was posted.
The board unanimously approved the transfer of the license.
Renewals without violations approved included:
• Wilby’s Inc., beer and wine dealer - grocery store, doing business as (dba) Wilby’s Gas & Goodies, 1200 S. Huntington St., Syracuse.
• United Oil Corporation, beer and wine dealer - grocery store, dba United Deli, 7487 E. Old 30, Pierceton.
• El Cielo Restaurant & Bar LLC, beer, wine and liquor - restaurant, dba El Cielo Restaurant & Bar, 520 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw.
• Dolgencorp LLC, beer and wine dealer - grocery store, dba Dollar General Store #7654, 9554 W. Ind. 25, Mentone.
• South Shore Ventures LLC, beer, wine and liquor restaurant, 10601 N. Ind. 13, Syracuse.
• GB License LLC, beer and wine dealer - grocery store, dba GoPuff, 109 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw.
The location is now an autism center and the alcohol license is being held in escrow, according to Tackett, which doesn’t require a physical address. The address listed is where GoPuff was going to have its business when it applied for alcohol sales.
• Harry’s Tap & Grill LLC, beer, wine and liquor - restaurant, dba Harry’s Tap & Grill, 132 S. Main St., Milford.
• TILI LLC, beer, wine and liquor - restaurant, Oak & Alley, 2308 E. Center St., Warsaw.
