Chris Lamb, right, president and co-owner of Indiana Liquor Group, doing business as Save-On Liquor, and Curtis Painter, chief marketing officer and co-owner of Indiana Liquor Group, speak to the Kosciusko County Alcohol Tobacco Commission Thursday about their license location transfer request. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — The owners of Save-On Liquor have found a location for their business in Winona Lake, but it’s only temporary until they find a better site.

Indiana Liquor Group LLC, doing business as Save-On Liquor, 2224 E. Winona Ave., Winona Lake, went before the Kosciusko County Alcohol Tobacco Commission Thursday, Aug. 7, for a beer, wine and liquor package store license location transfer.

Excise officer April Tackett said the company bought the permit on auction with a location pending and asked if they have now found a location, which they said they did.

Chris Lamb, president and co-owner of Indiana Liquor Group, said they bought the permit a few months ago and “switched it over to our company, put it in escrow while we were looking for a location.

“We have found a location at 2224 E. Winona. Calling it temporary. It’s a very small building. When we purchased this, the idea was to find a spot here and put in a very nice (business),” Lamb said.

Their concept is to be a high-end, nicer store with wines and spirits.

“We’re still looking for that location, so what we’re hoping is to put this in temporarily. We signed a year-to-year lease so if we find a better location, then we can apply for a transfer at that point from this one,” Lamb stated. Curtis Painter, owner and chief marketing officer, said, “This would be our 63rd location. We have 62 operating stores across Indiana currently — Muncie, Anderson, Marion, New Castle, Richmond. Kind of spread out. Just really fits in our footprint, just looking to continue to grow, whether it be through acquisition or opportunities like this. It fits well within our market, our footprint, so we thought it would be a good opportunity.”

Lamb said the closest other locations are in Wabash and Huntington. They are all Save-On stores as well.

Tackett said the sign for the license was posted and checked, there were no remonstrators for the transfer and there has been no final inspection as of the meeting.

Board member Dan Woods made the motion to accept the transfer, member Mike Hall seconded it and it passed 3-0. Member and president Alan Alderfer was absent.

Lamb said the buildout for the business won’t take very long. “But, once we do that, you want all the shelving in place before you do your walkthrough?” he asked Tackett.

She said no, the structural stuff will be fine, such as doors, windows, office, etc. The cosmetic part doesn’t have to be entirely finished before she does the inspection. Tackett said they can make an appointment with her to do the final inspection.

“Once that gets approved, we wait for the state approval then?” Lamb asked.

Tackett explained the transfer is approved at the local level so it will go to the state commissioners for their approval. The final inspection won’t hold them back as the state commissioners can approve it pending the final inspection.

“So you won’t have any extra wait time when it comes to that,” she said.

Lamb said this was the first time they didn’t have a walkthrough beforehand or on the same day. “It won’t hold you back at all,” Tackett said, wishing them good luck.

Renewals without violations approved by the board included:

• 28Fifty Management LLC, doing business as Stonehenge Golf, 2850 E. Pierceton Road, lower level, Winona Lake, beer, wine and liquor restaurant (210-1) license.

• Dolgencorp LLC, doing business as Dollar General No. 16323, 221 W. School St., Leesburg, beer and wine dealer grocery store license.

• Kyle & Mario LLC, doing business as Moe’s Hideout Bar & Grill, 204 E. State St., Etna Green, beer, wine and liquor restaurant (210-1) license.

• LM Acquisition Inc., doing business as New Market No. 770, 726 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, beer and wine dealer grocery store license.

• Service Liquors Inc., doing business as Service Liquors, 108 S. Lake St., Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor package store license.

• Terhaar Inc., doing business as The Post, 13496 N. First St., Pierceton, beer, wine and liquor restaurant (210) license.

• Texas Roadhouse Holdings LLC, doing business as Texas Roadhouse, 700 W. CR 300N, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor  restaurant (210-1) license.

• TL Overmyer LLC, doing business as Double Shot Liquor, 104 E. State St., Etna Green, beer, wine and liquor package store license.

• Yolo22 LLC, doing business as Silver Inn, 105 E. Main St., Silver Lake, beer, wine and liquor restaurant (210) license.

A renewal for a beer, wine and liquor restaurant (210-1) license for Lagos Steakhouse LLC, doing business as Jimmy’s Restaurant, 104 W. Himes St., North Webster, was approved but Tackett said there was an alert on it.

“There was an alert on it, but there wasn’t a hold. Down there in the notes, it said they had a violation June of ‘24. I’m pretty sure we heard that last year,” she said.

Just in case, she said, if it doesn’t go through down at the state and comes back before the local board, that’s why. Permit holders with violations have to appear before the local board for a hearing.