Elks Lodge pays $1,000 fine for liquor violations

The Tri-County Elk’s Lodge Restaurant has admitted to state alcoholic beverage control officials that it failed to meet the 70/30 food-alcohol sales split and has been ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

The Elks were scheduled to appear before ABC officials last Wednesday for a hearing to determine whether the restaurant’s alcohol license would be suspended or revoked after it missed the required split for the quarter ending in Oct. 2011. For that period, 62 percent of gross receipts came from the sale of food.

According to paperwork from the ABC, prior to that hearing, ABC and Elks officials agreed to an order that stated the Elks alcohol license should be suspended for 20 days.

The Elks were given the option of paying a fine of $50 per day in lieu of the suspension for a total of $1,000.

"They have paid the fine and are in good standing," said Corbin ABC Officer Bruce Rains.

The Elks failed to make the required split the following quarter, which ended in December. According to data provided by Rains, the Elks’ split improved to 67 percent. That marked the third consecutive quarter that the restaurant failed to make the split.

"That is currently under investigation," said Nathan Jones, a spokesperson for Kentucky ABC, about the December violation.

The case involving the Elks first violation for the quarter ending in July has not yet been closed, Jones stated. The split for that quarter was 66 percent food.

Rains said he has learned that the Elks restaurant is under new management and he has spoken with the new manager about resolving the issue.

David Barton took over the responsibilities for the restaurant in February.

Elks’ officials said the previous manager left of her own accord to spend time with her family and it was, in no way, related to the failure to meet the sales requirements.

In addition, the restaurant’s hours of operation have been changed in an effort to bring the ratio back in line.

As a result, the restaurant was back over the 70 percent requirement in the most recent report.

In the May 9 edition of The News Journal, Elks management announced the restaurant is seeking a new alcohol license with the amended food to alcohol ratio of 50/50.

Rains said Monday the new license has been granted.

The Elks Restaurant opened in 2010. The application for an alcohol license was initially denied. ABC officials cited the fact that if the Elks Club was meeting, the restaurant would not meet the 100 seat requirement in Corbin’s ordinance.

In May, 2010, the restaurant received approval from ABC officials and began selling alcohol in June.

Proceeds from the restaurant are used to fund the Elks’ charitable efforts, which include donations to the senior citizens’ center, Knox/Whitley Animal Shelter and college scholarships for local students.

Over the last three years, the donations have totaled approximately $150,000.