Alcoholic-beverage board recommends denial of Tapas Inn transfer amid links to prior denied permit
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Summary
The Marion County Alcoholic Beverage Board voted to recommend denial of a proposed transfer of a liquor permit to Familia Francione LLC after members concluded the application suggested indirect control by previously denied permit holders and raised concerns about good moral character and prior violations.
The Marion County Alcoholic Beverage Board voted Nov. 3 to recommend denial of a proposed transfer of a liquor permit to Familia Francione LLC, an application tied to the Tapas Inn in the Castleton area. Board members said evidence presented at the hearing showed connections between the proposed owners and previously denied permit applicants, prompting concerns that the transfer was effectively an attempt to obtain a license the prior owners could not secure directly.
At the hearing, the board reviewed records and testimony indicating that the previous permit holders had been denied in another location and that the proposed transferee’s close associates or family members had recurring appearances in prior violation reports. Chair Tyler Graves and other board members said the documentary record and press reporting about the prior applicants undermined the credibility of the transfer as an independent ownership change.
Applicant Wendy Singh Law testified she sought to be the operator and said she was unaware of some reported affiliations. “I wasn't trying to sneak one past you guys,” she told the board, acknowledging the board’s concern but denying intent to mislead. Board members said they remained unconvinced that the applicant and previously flagged individuals were sufficiently independent.
After discussion the board made a motion to deny the transfer. Members cited concerns about good moral character and the perceived risk of indirect control by previously denied parties. The board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, which will issue the final decision on Nov. 18, and the applicant may appeal the commission’s ruling.
What’s next: The board’s recommended denial goes to the state commission for final action. If the commission upholds the denial, the applicant may file an appeal; if the commission remands the matter, the local board could revisit the application with additional evidence.