story by Kim Souza
ksouza@thecitywire.com
The Alcohol Beverage Control of Arkansas approved 39 permits for new liquor stores in Benton County during the past three full days of hearings held in Little Rock. One last case, Lowell Liquor, was continued at the close of business on Thursday (July 18.)
The commission approved 17 applications on Thursday and denied five others.
The first liquor stores in the county are slated to open by mid-August, as the ABC requires a 30-day waiting period.
Following is the tally of stores by city:
Rogers 14
Bentonville 12
Lowell 3
Gentry 3
Bella Vista 1
Pea Ridge 1
Siloam Springs 1
Centerton 1
Garfield 1
Decatur 1
Praire Creek 1
See the this map for the exact locations.
Rick Crisman, deputy director of education for the ABC, said during a previous townhall meeting in Bella Vista that it is perfectly plausible some cities would not get a store because of the random nature of the lottery process.
“Rogers might get 15 or 5, it’s just the luck of the draw,” he said.
There were a total of 72 applicants that returned the paperwork and paid the fees to get into June lottery for 55 permits, which is based on the county’s population. Those lottery winners faced the ABC board this week after their proposed locations across Benton County were checked out by the commission.
On Tuesday (July 16), the board approved eight permits and denied three. Wednesday’s round handed out 14 permits and denied seven, most were declined because six of the proposed sites were deemed too close to a church. State law requires liquor store locations be a minimum of 1,000 feet from a church, school or daycare facility.
During Thursday’s proceedings the ABC approved 15 permits, and most of those were in Rogers and Bentonville. Garfield, Bella Vista and Pea Ridge each had one site approved.
A study conducted by the University of Arkansas estimated that Benton County was missing out on $33 million annually because of its “dry” status. The county was “dry” from 1944 until a major campaign garnered roughly 40,000 signatures to get on the general election ballot in November 2012.
The rest they say is history, and voters overwhelmingly supported the “wet” initiative and the county began selling beer and wine this past spring. More than 300 applicants submitted applications for retail liquor stores, but less than one-third of those completed paperwork and submitted the $2,000 fee. Not everyone who wanted a permit and won a lottery spot got the go-ahead to move forward. There were a total of 15 applicants whose proposed sites were denied over the past three days.
Crisman recently said the major reasons applications are denied is because the locations are too close to schools, churches and daycare facilities or the applicant already owns an interest in another liquor state in the state.
Robert McCurry was denied because the commission said he owns stock in Gild Corporation, doing business as Macadoodles. State law prohibits anyone with a financial interest in a liquor store from getting a second permit.
Crisman said for example Wal-Mart has the one permit in Arkansas in its Fayetteville Sam’s Club and while they can get beer and wine sale permits in multiple stores, they are not able to obtain another liquor store permit.
A denial can be appealed in circuit court within 30 days, according to a ABC spokeswoman. If there is no successful appeal, the ABC will offer those permits to the applicants next in line.
Tim Harrell, who operates Mac’s Get & Go in Bella Vista, received a conditional permit on Thursday. Two other applicants hoping to put stores in the city were denied.
Natalie Hasenbeck, with Bella Vista Wine & Spirits at 8830 W. McNelly Road, was denied because there were two churches within 1,000 feet of the proposed site on McNelly Road. Jerry Brown did not appear for the hearing and his proposed site at 17333 U.S. 71 was also denied.
The city of Rogers lost out on six proposed sites, and Bentonville applicants had four declined. Siloam Springs and Bella Vista also had applications declined.
PERMIT APPLICATIONS DECLINED
Lidia Almaraz, Rogers Liquor, 1303 Walnut, Rogers
Patrick Travis, Latte Da, 808 South 52nd St., Rogers
Stephen G. Baucom, Baucom’s Beverage, 2501 E. Central Ave., Bentonville
Jerry L. Brown, Bella Vista Liquor, 17333 Highway 71, Bella Vista
Joseph S. Capko, JJ’s Lakebound Liquor, 2403 No. 2nd Street, Rogers
Angela Cate, Squeaky’s Liquor, 206 S.W. 14th Street, Bentonville
Johnny L. Dillard, Veteran Spirits, 13977 Gentilly Road, Rogers
Eric C. George, High Spritis, 702 South Mt. Olive Street, Siloam Springs
Aimee R. Hasenbeck, Bentonville Wine & Spirits, 1720 So. Walton Blvd.,Bentonville
James R. Hasenbeck, Bob’s Liquor, 212 East Spruce, Rogers
Natalie S. Hasenbeck, Bella Vista Wine & Spirits, 8830 W. McNelly, Bentonville
Quintin W. Hilburn, Beaver Liquor, 1826 No. 2nd Street, Rogers
James C. Linstruth, Linstruth’s Wine and Liquors, 2501 North 4th St., Unit F, Rogers
Robert W. McCurry, Fine Wine & Spirits Store, 2503 SW “J” Street, Bentonville
Katherine K. Moore, Tipsy’s wine and Fine Spirits, 1705 So. 8th, Rogers
Patsy J. Simmons, Susie Q Liquor, 612 No. 2nd Street, Rogers
PERMITS APPROVED
Gary Eckel, Elkhorn Liquors, 16727 Highway 62, Garfield
Garland Hall, 1206 NW Walton Blvd. No. 4, Bentonville
Susan Hall, Jones Brother’s Beverage, 1206 NW Walton Blvd. No. 6, Bentonville
Sarah Gildenhaus, Guess Who, 3700 SE Rainbow Road, Bentonville
Jeffery Stokes, Stock Tank Liquor, 2270 Hwy. 412 E., Siloam Springs
Alayna K. Bennett, Mighty Nice Wine & Spirits, 3403 SE J Street, Bentonville
James T. WIllett, J & D Liquors, 14161 East Hwy. 12, Rogers
Angela Cate, Squeaky’s Liquor, 206 S.W. 14th Street, Bentonville
Heath Hasenbeck, Roger’s Wine & Sprits, 702 West Cypress Street, Rogers
Patrick Travis, Latte Da, 808 South 52nd St., Rogers
Sopheak Srunn, B J’s Liquor, 1902 S. 8th Street, Rogers
Judith Castor, The Liquor Steer, 215 W. New Hope Road, Rogers
Nicholas W. Southerland, Dr.’s Orders, 541 West Hudson Road, Rogers
John Lawrence, Junior’s Package Store, 2601 West Hudson Road, Rogers
Timothy Harrell, Mac’s Get & Go, 2822 Bella Vista Way, Bella Visa
Chad Smith, Chad’s Beverage Shop, 139 No. Curtis, Pea Ridge
Charles L. Jech, C & J Liquors, 129 Fowler, Suite A, Gentry
Brittany P. Wilks, B & G Liquor, 2100 W. Hudson, Ste. 4, Rogers
Sammy S. Leng, Kay’s Wine and Liquors, 2518 So. 18th, Rogers
Kyle D. Castor, II, Still at the Tracks, 401 W. New Hope, Rogers
Michael G. McGooden, McGoo’s, 2998 Hwy 412 East, Siloam Springs
Charles O. Reeves, Gentry Spirits, 129 Fowler Street, Suite D, Gentry
Erik P. Danielson, Walton Blvd. Wine and Spirits LLC, 406 Razorback Rd., Bentonville
Kerry D. Castor, City Sliquors, 1201 West Monroe, Lowell
Rita Bajwa, Beverage Mart Liquors, 7403 SW Regional Airport Blvd., Suite 2, Bentonville
Michael F. McKenzie, Finnegan’s Wine and Spirits, 1301 No. Walton Blvd., Ste. 1, Bentonville
Matthew E. Giess, It’s All Good Liquor, 1717 West Walnut, Rogers
Joshua C. Kyles, Highway 12 Liquor, Corner of Hwy 12 & SW Bright Road, Bentonville
Lillian E. Fowler, Bridge Store Liquor, 15479 E. Highway 12, Rogers
Kym M. Reeves, 102 Liquors, 2501 No. 4th Street, Ste. A, Rogers
Jeremy D. Avance, Crossroads Liquor, 1401 So. Walton, #15, Bentonville
Nathan D. Strayhorn, Nathan’s, 1220 East Centerton Blvd., Centerton
Sheldon J. Nuhfer, Wine Basket, 207 East Monroe, Suite B, Lowell
Christopher E. Moore, Fosters Spirit Shop, 2090 W. Pleasant Grove Rd., Rogers
Sokunthea Sou, Tims Discount Liquor, 2328 So. 8th Street, Rogers
Parminder Singh, Liquor Haven, 1200 SE 14th, Suite 2, Bentonville
Vance M. Puttkammer, L. A. Liquors, 504 West Monroe, Lowell
Phillip E. Lee, South Walton Spirits, 1104 So. Walton Blvd., Bentonville
Timothy Witcher, T-N-T Liqour, 1190-A Hwy 59S, Decatur
Keith Smithpeters, Praire Creek Liquor, SW Corner of Stoner & HWY 12, Praire Creek