Liquor Hearings Start Today

Permit Sessions Expected To Last Through Thursday

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

BENTONVILLE — The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Division will start liquor permit hearings for Benton County businesses today in Little Rock. The hearings for the 55 applicants are expected to extend through Thursday.

A lottery drawing on June 12 determined who among the initial 72 applicants would get first crack at the 55 allotted permits. Those who drew the 55 slots will participate in this first round of hearings. Michael Langley, director of administration for the state agency, said he doubted all of the applicants would be approved due to proximity issues.

At A Glance

On Twitter

Follow Misty Gittings on Twitter at NWAMisty for live coverage of the hearings starting today. A map of applicants set for a hearing today is available at: https://www.google.com/fusiontables/DataSource?docid=1wnv09O0sJKc-sF6XRsu8wbCdUasavumT37FzbXc

Today’s Applicants

Applicants set for a hearing today are:

• Robert W. McCurry, Fine Wine & Spirits Store — 2503 S.E. J St., Bentonville

• Charles L. Jech, C&J Liquors — 129 Fowler St., Suite A, Gentry

• James C. Linstruth, Linstruth’s Wine and Liquors — 2501 N. Fourth St., Unit F, Rogers

• Brittany P. Wilks, B&G Liquor — 2100 W. Hudson Road, Suite 4, Rogers

• Patsy J. Simmons, Susie Q Liquor — 612 N. Second St., Rogers

• Sammy S. Leng, Kay’s Wine and Liquors — 2518 S. 18th St., Rogers

• Kyle D. Castor, Still At The Tracks — 401 W. New Hope Road, Rogers

• Michael G. McGooden, McGoo’s — 2998 U.S. 412 East, Siloam Springs

• Charles O. Reeves, Gentry Spirits — 129 Fowler St., Suite D, Gentry

• Erik P. Danielson, Walton Boulevard Wine and Spirits — 406 Razorback Road, Bentonville

• Kerry D. Castor, City Sliquors — 1201 W. Monroe Ave., Lowell

Source: Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division

Early applicants will have an easier time, Langley said. If their applications are in order and there is no opposition, they likely will be approved. Later applicants will face scrutiny in how close they are to previously approved stores, he said.

Two of the applicants under consideration at today’s hearing are located in the same shopping center at 129 Fowler St. in Gentry. C&J Liquors has applied for a permit for Suite A, while Gentry Spirits lists Suite D as its location. Charles Jech’s C&J Liquors has the second spot of the day, with Charles O. Reeves’ Gentry Spirits holding the ninth hearing, according to today’s agenda.

Langley also expects some applicants will have opposition. Opponents who sent in their concerns to the division will have an opportunity to speak at the hearings.

Applicants for liquor permits in Madison and Sharp counties will start at 9 a.m. today, followed by the Benton County hearings at 1:30 p.m., according to the meeting agenda. Madison County has three applicants, while Sharp County has four. The number of liquor permits allowed in each county is based on population. State law allows one permit for every 4,000 residents.

Each applicant is scheduled for a 15-minute hearing before the division’s Board of Directors. The five-member board is comprised of Little Rock, Batesville and Plumerville residents, according to the Department of Finance and Administration website.

The first applicant will be Robert W. McCurry for Fine Wine & Spirits Store at 2503 S.E. J St. in Bentonville. Bentonville has fewer applicants overall than Rogers, which has the most applicants. Rogers has 23 applicants scheduled for hearings, while Bentonville has 15. The remaining 17 applicants are broken down in smaller cities around the county.

Five of the 11 permit hearings scheduled for today are for Rogers businesses. Two are from Bentonville, two from Gentry and one from Lowell and Siloam Springs.

The hearings are scheduled to end at 4 p.m. today and pick up again at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Benton County Liquor permits granted