SEARCY -- The Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Board voted Wednesday to grant a permit to sell alcoholic beverages to a third Searcy restaurant.
But El Almacen must await approval in Pulaski County Circuit Court before it can sell alcohol, though the court is expected to allow the liquor sales, said Michael Harry, an attorney for the Alcoholic Beverage Control agency. Harry said the board's vote Wednesday was unanimous.
El Almacen had appealed the board's denial of a permit to circuit court, which had sent the case back to the board, Harry noted.
Attorney Harry Truman Moore has contended that the board should have approved El Almacen's original request because that same day the board approved a very similar request from another Searcy restaurant, the Rock House.
The only other Searcy restaurant that can now legally serve alcoholic beverages is Coulton's.
The White County city, with almost 24,000 residents, also has four private clubs that can legally serve alcohol, but none of them is a traditional restaurant. They are two Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, the Searcy Country Club and an Elks Lodge.
The three restaurants sought their permits before a new state law relating to such permits took effect. The law now requires that organizations such as country clubs, or businesses such as restaurants that want to become private clubs petition the local governing body -- either the city council or the county quorum court depending on the operation's location -- for permission. Only after that request is granted can the organization or business then seek a state permit to sell alcoholic beverages.
State Desk on 11/16/2017