Bowling alley owner denied city beer permit

The new owner of the Shelbyville bowling alley was denied a beer permit for the second month in a row at the Wednesday night meeting of the Shelbyville Beer Board. According to board chairman Ricky Overcast, "one of the reasons" was because the owner, Kim Manley, admitted to selling beer without a license.

Manley purchased the establishment the first week in December.

"We closed the deal the Monday and I was running around, getting licensed renewed or changed over, signing closing papers, getting insurance," said Manley in an earlier interview. "When I applied for a beer permit, I misunderstood. I thought I could operate under the old permit until mine was approved."

Manley said he thought the old permit was under the previous owners' names and they had given him blanket permission to operate under any licenses they held until his were finalized. The beer permit was, however, under the name of "Buzz" Ballard, the previous manager whom Manley let go his first day of ownership. Manley said it was still on the premises on the first Thursday morning he owned the business.

The first Thursday night under the new management, police were called and told that Manley was serving beer without a license. When they arrived, he went to show them the permit, only to find it was missing.

"I took up all the beer that had already been sold and refunded the money," said Manley.

He was not given a citation, just a warning.

"I really thought I was allowed to operate under the old permit," he said. "I was wrong, and I made a mistake, I admit it. I had applied for my own permit before this all happened."

But when it came time for that application to be heard at the December meeting, it was denied because of the illegal beer sales. When asked when he could apply again, according to the minutes, he was told "he could not reapply."

"Overcast told me I'd never get a beer permit in Shelbyville," said Manley.

A friend of Manley's and the previous owners who used to manage the bowling alley intervened and was told if Manley submitted a letter of apology, his application would be reconsidered. He did so, and appeared before the board Wednesday night. His letter, submitted days earlier, was handed out at that time.

He was allowed to approach the board. After about five minutes, Overcast moved to deny the permit.

After the meeting, the chairman was asked why and he said Manley admitted to breaking the law and that was "one of the reasons." When asked what the other reasons were, he did not answer, but said to refer to the minutes of the previous meeting. No other reasons were listed in those minutes. When asked if he knew whether or not Manley had been cited for the sales, he said, "I don't know." When asked if Manley had sold beer without a permit since then, he said the same thing.

Overcast then told the other board members, referring to the reporter, "Don't talk to her. You don't have to talk to her."

"I don't even drink any more myself," said Manley later. "But beer sales are 10 to 20 percent of my income."

He said in an earlier interview that there would be no beer sales on Sunday or Tuesday, when he plans to offer special rates for church groups and a church bowling league.

A beer permit was approved for Dr. W. L, Alcorn for an establishment he plans called Jamaican Jacks at 116 Sunlite Road in Shelbyville. An application for the same address, but a different business, was denied at the December meeting.

"We had a whole room full of people in here not wanting it," said Overcast. "We have to consider the neighborhood."

The board considered the noise and traffic congestion complaints they received about the previous establishment. Alcorn assured them his was a totally different business entity. He said he did plan on offering a music venue as well as a restaurant.. After about 15 minutes of discussion, the board agreed to approve the permit.

"He deserves a chance," said one board member."

"If there's a problem, you can always take back the permit," said Betty Lamb.

A beer permit was also issued to Sandoval Alfonso for the new Mexican restaurant, Alfonso's, on Madison Street.