Liquor licenses closer for three area businesses

Two Gentry and one Decatur applicant make lottery cut and move on to hearings.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

WESTSIDE - Three applicants for liquor licenses in the Eagle Observer coverage area will be among the 55 applicants chosen by lottery from among the 72 applicants to move on to the hearing stage in the process of obtaining a license to operate a liquor store in Benton County.

From Gentry and Decatur, the following were chosen: Charles L. Jech, C&J Liquors in Gentry; Charles O. Reeves, Gentry Spirits in Gentry; and Timothy E. Witcher, T-N-T Liquor in Decatur.

Applicants paid a $2,000 fee, $1,000 of which is refundable if the permit is denied.

The hearings are scheduled for July 16-18 in Little Rock. Once the 55 licenses are awarded, the hearings will cease.

If any of the initial 55 applicants chosen by lottery are denied during the hearing process, the next applicants in line after the 55th lottery selection will move up and have a chance at obtaining a license.

Factors which could affect an applicant's chances include proximity to another liquor store which was awarded a license earlier in the process and opposition from community members.

It remains to be seen if the issue of proximity could prevent a second Gentry applicant from obtaining a license.

Benton County voters overwhelmingly approved alcohol sales in the county in the Nov. 6 general election, with 65 percent in favor of a wet county and 34 percent against, according to the Benton County Election Commission.

Convenience stores and grocery stores started selling beer and wine in January under retail beer and wine permits.

Business owners are not limited in the number of beer and wine permits they can hold, but hard liquor is only allowed with a liquor store permit and owners are only allowed one permit in Arkansas.

News, Pages 1 on 06/19/2013