New Clubs Open In County

BENTONVILLE — Benton County became home to 18 new private clubs in the last year, bringing the total alcohol establishments in the county to 134.

Club owners went before the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division 33 times last year for permits, to change the club manager or to transfer a license to a new location.

There was no opposition to any of the permits or changes. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Division reaches out to mayors, police chiefs, and the county sheriff to make sure they have no qualms with proposed permits.

The only feedback on any new clubs in the county consisted of two letters in support of Club Victoria, a private club in Rogers.

Rogers had the most new clubs, nine. Several of the clubs are in restaurants in the Pinnacle Hills Promenade area, including Genghis Grill, Houlihan’s and Mojitos Mexican Grill.

Rogers/540 Catering Co. began operating out of the John Q. Hammons Center, while Cedar Creek Co. was permitted to operate at the Embassy Suites in Rogers. Heliodoro Bueno-Lorenzo was granted permits for both of the private clubs in February.

Bentonville has seven new clubs. Eleven, the restaurant in Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, was granted a permit as a large event facility in October. New downtown clubs in Bentonville include the Pressroom and Flying Fish.

Most of the remaining Bentonville clubs were opened in Mexican restaurants such as Las Fajitas Grill on Southwest Regional Airport Boulevard, Maria’s Club and Acambaro, both on South Walton Boulevard.

The Comfort Suites was permitted in July for its Bentonville Club at 2011 W. Walton Blvd.

Two Bentonville clubs transferred during the past year. Bentley’s was forced to seek a new location when the Economy Lodge was razed to make way for a Harps on North Walton Boulevard. The club was permitted for a new site at 911 S.E. 28th St. in August.

Bentley’s redefined itself as an Italian grill in the location occupied formerly by the Celtic Grill. Bennie Cash, bar manager, said the transfer went without a hitch, though he admitted the owner is meticulous when dealing with the state alcohol division.

He said Bill Kruse, area division enforcer, has been in the restaurant at least three times checking up since they opened.

“To my knowledge, we’ve never had an ABC violation,” Cash said.

Others aren’t so lucky. County clubs had nine violations since November 2011. The Aloft Club in Rogers was warned in November its license would be suspended if it didn’t submit an application for a change of bar manager within 30 days. The club submitted the paperwork later that month.

At the same meeting, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board cited the club for purchasing alcohol from a liquor store in Missouri and delivering alcohol to a nonpermitted outlet, according to division reports. The club was fined $1,300 and placed on probation for a year.

Gusano’s Chicago Style Pizzeria in Bentonville was cited on two occasions for selling alcohol to a minor. The initial offense came before the board in March with a fine of $400 and a 90-day probation. The club was fined $800 in July for furnishing alcohol to a minor employee, serving alcohol to an intoxicated employee and giving away alcohol, according to reports.

Las Fajitas Grill in Bentonville and Hook, Line & BBQ in Bella Vista also were cited for serving alcohol to a minor.

Four clubs lost their permits after the businesses closed. Papa Mike’s at the Highlands in Bella Vista, Eddie Haskell’s in Rogers, the Celtic Grill in Bentonville and McB’s in Rogers no longer have valid club permits.

Mike Jones with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office said most clubs abide by the law, but some are more troublesome. Jones also has worked as an enforcement agent for the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.

“When they’re dealing with the ABC, they try and police themselves,” Jones said. “They don’t want the fines and bad publicity that come with violations. But there are some that don’t take care of business.”