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Restaurant owner asks Dawsonville council to reverse two-year alcohol license revocation
Summary
Owner Lakshmi Anurada appealed the city’s two-year revocation after failing to pay alcohol excise taxes and alleged management error during her absence; council was told a decision must be rendered within seven days.
The owner of the restaurant identified in meeting materials as IHeart New York Pizza appealed the city’s revocation of its alcohol license, telling Dawsonville council the business suffered a managerial lapse while she was absent for a family emergency.
City manager Jacob Evans summarized staff’s timeline: the business failed to pay alcohol excise taxes for April–June 2025 and again for July–September 2025. Staff suspended fines initially and later suspended the license for 14 days (Oct. 12–26). During that suspension staff documented sales of alcohol at the establishment; the city revoked the license for two years on Oct. 29. The business appealed the revocation within the 10-day appeal period and appeared before council on Nov. 17.
Owner Lakshmi Anurada told the council she had been out of Atlanta in August and September due to a family emergency, had hired a new manager who did not properly manage payments, and that she fired that manager upon learning of the missed taxes. "I sincerely don't know that they served alcohol during the suspension," she said, and asked the council to reverse the two-year revocation because of the hardship to the business and employees.
Council and staff asked clarifying questions about notices and timelines. City staff said they sent approximately ten notices (one per missed month plus notices tied to suspension and revocation) and attempted hand delivery. City attorney Kevin Tallent and staff informed the council they could take time to decide, but any administrative decision must be made within seven days; the council could communicate a decision to city staff without calling a special public meeting.
No final vote or reversal was recorded in the transcript; the council did not render a decision on Nov. 17. The next step is an administrative decision by the council within seven days or a formal vote communicated and recorded thereafter.
What’s next: The council has up to seven days to issue a written decision on the appeal; the transcript does not record the council’s final choice or any interim conditions.
