Board deadlocks on Mimis Event Lounge; vote held and matter to state after owner/buyer issues
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Summary
The board tied on renewal for Mimis Event Lounge after hearing that a prior buyer, William King, had an out-of-state felony that disqualified him. The permit has been in escrow; the boards tie will be forwarded to the state for final action.
The Local Alcoholic Beverage Board of Marion County held a vote on Mimis Event Lounge (RR4936555) after counsel and the owner described a complex sale and transfer sequence. Counsel Mark Webb told the board the permit had been placed in escrow after an attempted sale to a buyer later identified as William King.
Board materials and counsel said the prospective buyer had an out-of-state felony conviction in Arizona that rendered him disqualified from owning an alcohol permit. The permit remained closed and in escrow while parties sought a new buyer and a new location for the license. The board was presented a proposed path to transfer the permit to an independent third party at a new site; the sellers counsel asked the board to approve steps to get the permit out of the sellers hands.
When the board voted, members were split. The motion did not carry; board members recorded differing views citing public nuisance and criminal-act concerns in the licenses history and questioned whether the seller should financially benefit from a transfer. The chair recorded a tie vote; per board practice the matter will be elevated to the state authority for final disposition.
The board noted prior incident history in the locations record, including reports of disorder and serious incidents from 2019 recorded in police notes. The board did not revoke the permit at the hearing but deferred final disposition to the state as provided by statute and board rules.
