Excise officer April Tackett, right, looks over information for a new alcohol license application at Thursday’s Kosciusko County Alcohol Tobacco Commission meeting while commission members, from left, Dan Woods and Mike Hall look on. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

KOSCIUSKO COUINTY — Three Crowns Coffee is looking to expand its hours of operation, so it was approval Thursday, Feb. 6, from the Kosciusko County Alcohol Tobacco Commission for a new riverfront district beer, wine and liquor license. The state commission must still approve the application for Three Magi LLC, doing business as Three Crowns Coffee, 941 N. Detroit St., Warsaw, at its next meeting.

Sarah Clemans, co-owner of Three Crowns Coffee, told the local board the principle nature of their business is serving coffee and Ramen, a Japanese noodle dish. “So we want to expand our hours. Currently, we operate until 5 p.m., but during weekends we want to serve Ramen in the evenings, and we would like to also start serving Japanese beer and saké along with that for dinner,” she said.

Commission member Dan Woods asked if any Three Crowns Coffee employees had experience serving alcohol before. Sarah Clemans said her husband — Obadiah Clemans, the other co-owner of the business — is working on getting his certification and they also have a barista who has worked as a bartender.

“We plan to get all of our — anyone who’s going to be working in the evenings on the weekends — the certification through the ATC,” she stated.

Excise officer April Tackett asked if they were going to have any bar room at all, or if it was going to all be served to the table. “It’s going to be served from the back to the table,” Sarah replied. “We do have a bar, but it’s only serving espressos and sodas, and we’re planning on prepping any alcohol in the back and then bringing it out.”

“So no alcohol bar room?” Tackett asked, and Sarah said no. Tackett explained what constitutes a bar room in Indiana is serving across the counter.

Sarah said they weren’t going to do that. “Even if people are sitting at your coffee bar, you couldn’t come from the kitchen or wherever it’s going to be and serve it across the counter. You’d have to go around,” Tackett stated. Asked about seating capacity, Sarah said it’s roughly 60 people. There’s no outdoor seating.

A riverfront district license does not permit carry-out. Woods made a motion to accept the new license application, member Mike Hall seconded it and it was approved 3-0. President Alan Alderfer was absent.

There were no remonstrators.

License renewals without violations and no remonstrators approved included:

• American Legion Post 258, doing business as American Legion Post 258, First and Catholic streets, Pierceton, beer, wine and liquor fraternal club license.

• El Arriero No. 2 Inc., doing business as El Arriero, 819 N. Detroit St., Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor restaurant (210-1) license.

• Warsaw Seafood Inc., doing business as Asian Cajun, 658 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw, beer and wine retailer restaurant license.

• BBQ on Broadway LLC, doing business as BBQ on Broadway, 104 S. Broadway St., Mentone, beer and wine retailer restaurant license.

• Tili LLC, doing business as Oak & Alley, 2308 E. Center St., Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor restaurant (210-1) license.