Gentry restaurant obtains club permit

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

— City alderman James Furgason expressed disappointment that the council and city residents were not notified of the permit application of Laurie Martin and Fleur de Lis Grill of Benton County, located at 468 South Gentry Blvd. (Arkansas Highway 59) in Gentry, to become a private club and serve alcoholic beverages in time to comment on the application before it was granted.

Gentry’s mayor, Kevin Johnston, reported the application had been filed and granted by the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.

The permit application was received by ABC on April 12 and assigned May 2, according to paperwork shared with council members on June 6.

Copies of the assignment and comment forms were mailed to the Gentry mayor and council, Gentry’s chief of police, the county sheriff and the county prosecutor, with 15 days to respond.

Johnston told the council he did not call a special council meeting to consider the matter because of budget constraints and the fact that he was told the permit would be granted unless there were a legitimate objection or a major public outcry against it.

Johnston said June 6 that the permit had already been granted.

The application states that the club provides dining, television, recorded music and occasional live music.

The club began serving beer, wine and margaritas to patrons requesting the drinks several weeks ago, according to Jill McQuiston, one of the restaurant’s owner-managers. She said no one’s abused the availability of alcoholic beverages and that the restaurant’s club status has caused no problems.

The restaurant is the first in Gentry to offer alcoholic beverages to club members in more than 50 or 60 years, according to area residents. Some recalled a dance club outside the city which served alcoholic beverages around the time of Word War II or shortly after.

News, Pages 1 on 06/15/2011