Marion County Alcoholic Beverage Board Hearing – August 4, 2025

On Monday, August 4, 2025, the Local Alcoholic Beverage Board of Marion County convened at 9:30 AM local time (14:30 UTC) under President Tyler Graves. The board heard cases from Speedway, Beech Grove, Lawrence, and Indianapolis. Representing the city of Lawrence was Jim Hinnigan; representing Indianapolis was Peter Luster. Excise Officer Amy Sunier served as secretary. The meeting was broadcast live on Channel 16.

Consent Calendar

• Renewals without violations: The board approved multiple renewals via motion, including Hook Super X LLC (CVS Pharmacy) at 5605 North Post Road, 11627 Fox Road; Fort Ben Pub; Taco Express; Michelle Miller (location pending); and others. These were all approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Remonstrator – Moonboard Grill: Sergeant John Cors with IMPD entered as a remonstrator against Fusion Inc. (d/b/a Moonboard Grill) at 148 East Market Street and requested a continuance. The board granted the continuance to September 2, 2025.

Discussion Items

• New Applications & Transfers:

  • Margarita Factory Mexican Cuisine (11135 Pendleton Pike, Suite 400): Transfer of ownership. Owners Nayeli Nava Mendoza and Lizette Roman Lozano answered first-time petitioner questions. No violations in two years of operation. Approved unanimously.
  • La Herradura LLC (3755 North Shayland Avenue): New restaurant with 120-person capacity. Owner (translated) stated she had 20 years of experience at McDonald's and Taco Bell. Approved unanimously.
  • Him by Her Inc. (120 East Market Street, Suite 1000): Nonprofit art gallery seeking beer and wine license. Owner Harry Dunn explained the membership model. Approved unanimously.
  • L Rinconcito de Anita (2989 West Lane Road, Suite 3): Small Puerto Rican/Dominican restaurant. Owner Anna S. (through translator) stated only family members serve. Approved unanimously.
  • Magoose Pizza Restaurant (6925 South Franklin Road, Suite 106): 30-seat pizza restaurant. Owner Ranjick Gill. Approved unanimously.
  • AFS Event Center (4150 Lafayette Road, Suite F): Catering hall with 250-person capacity. Owner Adi Goke also holds a restaurant license next door with zero violations. Approved unanimously.
  • Rise and Shine Breakfast House (1345 Southport, #10): Transfer from Andy's Burger Joint. Owner Upwind Kent. Approved unanimously.
  • G1 Indian Restaurant (4905–07 North College Avenue): Owner Raj Singh has two other licenses with no violations. Approved unanimously.
  • Agave Business LLC (Mr. Camarone) (3709 East Washington Street): Transfer of location and upgrade from two-way to three-way permit. Owner Aminio P. had a violation at another location (served minor). Approved unanimously.
  • The Knotted Spoon Bar and Kitchen (575 Mass Ave, Suite 7): Second restaurant for owners Beverly Steele and Michael Cobb. No violations at first location. IMPD requested contact. Approved unanimously.
  • Shy K Lounge (1514 North Emerson): Owner Tony Collin also owns Speedway Liquor with zero violations. Approved unanimously.
  • Tiebreakers (339 Massachusetts Avenue): Sports bar. Owner Rob Strong has prior experience. Approved unanimously.

• Renewals with Violations:

  • Kroger J-862 (11101 Pendleton Pike): Sale to minor. Store manager said policy is to ID everyone; employee was not discharged. Approved unanimously.
  • Bob's Party Pack (2633 East Stop 11 Road): Second violation in five years – sale to intoxicated person. Employee terminated. Owner retrained staff. Approved unanimously.
  • Speedway #770 (46 South Kentucky Avenue): Sale to minor. Updated POS system to require ID scanning. Employee terminated. Approved unanimously.
  • Country Club of Indianapolis (2801 Country Club Road): General manager Jeffrey Parsons failed to have his own permit. Corrected. Approved unanimously.
  • Indy Trade Association (2957 North Sherman): Private social club with multiple violations (smoking signage, drugs, employee permits, and a homicide in adjacent parking lot – club not found at fault). Club closed as of December 31, 2024; license placed in escrow. Approved unanimously.
  • Howl at the Moon (20 East Georgia Street): Three violations (minimum food requirements, smoking sign, missing employee permit). New GM Dwayne Carriton implemented tracking system. Approved unanimously.
  • Taylor's Pub (1546 East 86th Street): Fourth compliance check failure in 10 years. Owner Kyle Davis changed policy to immediate termination. Board granted a one-year renewal with a warning that another failure would lead to denial. Approved.
  • Kroger J-998 (1365 East 86th Street): No one present; continued.
  • Community Spirits #4 (1601 North College Avenue): Violation for expired employee permit and smoking sign. Owner Charles Eberhardt brought in wife to manage permitting. Approved unanimously.
  • Basbo's (8329 Massachusetts Avenue): Violations for missing signs and employee permits. Manager Max Berman corrected. Approved unanimously.
  • V at Hue Food Market (636 East 82nd Street): Sell off-premise – sold distilled spirits not from wholesaler. Owner Tommy Zang corrected. Approved unanimously.
  • True Liquor (2915 English Avenue): Clerk sold to minor without asking ID. Manager fired employee. Approved unanimously.
  • Harper's Bar and Grill (location pending): Owner Carlos Harper closed business after violations (overcrowding, employee permits). License in escrow. Approved unanimously.
  • 317 Barbecue (6320 Guilford Avenue): Compliance check failure – employee sold to minor. Also ownership disclosure issue. Corrected. Approved unanimously.
  • Tajan Mexican Restaurant (3350 North High School Road, Suite M): Three violation reports involving employee permits, floor plan alteration, allowing minor in a tavern, public nuisance, criminal recklessness, hindering, and calls for service. Owner Ulysses Diego invested heavily in security: $10,000/month for off-duty IMPD officer, LBT camera system linked to IMPD, new in-house security, dress code changes, and reduced capacity. Calls for service dropped to zero since March 2025. Board granted a one-year renewal acknowledging proactive measures but noting the troubled intersection. Approved.
  • JSM Liquors (King Liquors) (3905 West 96th Street): Two violations for sales to minors (including a juvenile). Owner Shizot Singh had been absent due to injury; now works only with wife. Board granted a one-year renewal with a warning that another minor violation would result in denial. Approved.
  • BBQ Chicken (8510 Center Run Drive, Suite D): Violation for serving alcohol over a prohibited counter area and employing an under-21 server without proper permit. Manager corrected. Approved unanimously.
  • Tapatia Mexican Restaurant (7640 North Shayland Avenue): Purchased alcohol from non-wholesaler due to account issues. Owner Daniel Solis corrected. Approved unanimously.

• Other Items:

  • Wine Brewery LLC (location pending): Applicant failed to attend after four chances. Motion to deny passed unanimously.
  • All Moms Love LLC (247 South Meridian Street): No sign posted; continued to September.
  • West Fork Broad Ripple (651 East 54th Street): No sign posted; continued.
  • Circle City Hospitality Group (location pending): Continued to September pending clearance.
  • Riverside Sports Properties (1502 16th Street): Held to end, but not heard due to lack of time; continued.
  • Fusion Inc. (Moonboard Grill) (148 East Market Street): Continued to September per remonstrator request.
  • VP51 Incorporated (5109 North Franklin Road): Third continuance; board will hear next month regardless of attendance.

Key Outcomes

• Approved New/Transfer Applications: 14 applications approved unanimously.
• Approved Renewals without Violations: Multiple renewals approved via consent calendar.
• Violations – One-Year Renewals Granted: Taylor's Pub, Tajan Mexican Restaurant, JSM Liquors (King Liquors) each received a one-year renewal with specific conditions and warnings.
• Violations – Standard Renewals Approved: Kroger, Bob's Party Pack, Speedway, Country Club, Indy Trade Association, Howl at the Moon, Community Spirits, Basbo's, V at Hue Food Market, True Liquor, Harper's Bar and Grill, 317 Barbecue, BBQ Chicken, Tapatia Mexican Restaurant – all approved unanimously.
• Denied: Wine Brewery LLC (failure to attend).
• Continued: 9 applications (including Moonboard Grill, VP51, and others) to September 2, 2025, due to missing documents, lack of quorum, or remonstrator requests.
• Renewal for Lawrence (VP51): Continued because the Lawrence board representative had left; applicant instructed to appear at 9:30 AM on September 2, 2025.
• Automatic Renewals: Motion to approve automatic renewals passed unanimously.
• Meeting adjourned at approximately 12:15 PM local time.