Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Customers at Copper Canyon Tobacconist in Warsaw will soon be able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage with their cigar, cigarettes or other tobacco products while lounging at the business.
Thursday, CBCL Investments LLC, doing business as CBCL Investments, 2930 Frontage Road, Warsaw, petitioned the Kosciusko County Alcohol Tobacco Commission for a new beer and wine retailer - restaurant license.
Owner Christopher Lewis told the commission he owns a chain of stores in northeastern Indiana. “A lot of our stores that have lounges offer beer and wine as an option. It’s not a huge selling point, it’s just something we like to offer our cigar smokers to enjoy, to pair with our cigars,” he said.
Excise officer April Tackett asked if the lounge had space for 25 seats, and she was told yes.
Asked how the alcohol is served to customers, Lewis said it would be sold from the cashier who would have an alcohol serving license. The cooler would be behind the cashier and the cashier would open the drink for the customer.
General Manager Joseph Pasquali said the whole facility is 21 years and older because of the cigars. As for food service that will be offered, Pasquali said they usually have “snackier things - summer sausage, crackers, cheese, a few hot options, Hot Pockets, coffee, soda. The necessary things, but we don’t have the full kitchen. Stuff that people can get quick, and nothing that we would need a full chef for.”
Lewis owns 14 stores in Indiana and two in Allen County have alcohol licenses.
Commission President Alan Alderfer asked what their primary business is.
“Tobacco,” Pasquali stated. “So, cigars, anything tobacco related. (It’s) 85% of our sales.”
A lot of people go to one of their cigar lounges and watch a sporting event. In Fort Wayne, people can have a drink, too, which is something they want to offer at their Warsaw location as customers have been asking for it, he said.
They explained to the commission about their alcohol-serving training and how they are strict on following the laws. Copper Canyon has been in Warsaw since 2022 and they said they haven’t had a violation since.
There were no remonstrators against the new license. The commission unanimously approved the license, which will go before the state board for final approval as the county commission is just a recommending body to the state.
A transfer of a beer, wine and liquor - restaurant (209) license for Jameson Beery Holdings LLC, doing business as Lakelife Bar and Grill, 3687 N. Barbee Road, Warsaw, also was before the Kosciusko Alcohol Tobacco Commission Thursday.
Laura Kaufman, attorney for Lakelife owner Nathan Berry, explained, “So, the prior owners of the Lakelife Bar & Grill - Joe and Sherie Gallas - decided to step back from the business and are retiring, so they’re selling the real estate and the business to Mr. Berry. And so, he would like to get the permit transferred so he can continue to sell the alcohol.”
Berry said he started running the business on Jan. 1. Tackett asked him what his history was, if any, with alcohol permits in Indiana.
“I used to work in restaurants, Benningan’s is one of them,” he said. “... I managed some inventory, I was one of the head cooks, so that was part of my operations. As far as manager experiences, I managed a law office with my father until he passed, and then managed customer services.”
Tackett asked him how Lakelife has been since January. Berry said the operations are the same and have in fact increased, between 14 to 300%.
She asked Berry if he was aware the permit was a 209, outside of the city limits, so there is a food figure he has to hit annually. He said he understood.
Alderfer told Berry, “So, we’ve had some issues with your area, with another establishment down the road. What is your plan for security?”
Berry said first was to I.D. people. Two, they wouldn’t be open any later than 1:30 a.m. on weekends. “As far as security ... I just ensure that people are OK. And then if they are getting a little too much,” he said, they will be told to leave. It’s a family restaurant. In the last two months, he said he’s turned people away and even barred one “troublemaker.”
There were no remonstrators, and the commission unanimously approved the license.
Renewals without any violations approved by the board Thursday included:
• Walgreen CO, doing business as Walgreen #7906, 2400 E. Center St., Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor - drug store license.
• Wagon Wheel Theatre Inc., doing business as Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, 2515 E. Center St., Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor restaurant (210-1) license.
