Central Arkansas movie theater appealing liquor-sales denial

Cabot council backs owner’s request

A Cabot movie theater has appealed a recent state Alcoholic Beverage Control Division decision to deny the owner's request to serve alcohol to its patrons, Department of Finance and Administration spokesman Scott Hardin said Monday.

James Smith, the owner of Cabot 8 VIP Cinema, applied for a private club license in July. Cabot is located in Lonoke County, which is "dry," meaning that the law forbids the sale of any kind of alcoholic beverage. Business owners can skirt the prohibition if their establishments are designated as private clubs by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.

Mary Robin Casteel, director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, denied the application Wednesday based on "significant public opposition presented to ABC," Hardin said.

He believes the appeal will be heard by the ABC Board at its Oct. 10 meeting, Hardin said.

"Following a hearing, the board will vote to uphold the director's decision or overturn it, awarding the permit to the theater," Hardin said.

Messages left for Smith were not returned as of late Monday.

The agency received a petition with about 730 signatures as well as several letters asking Casteel to deny the theater's application.

The opposition came despite the Cabot City Council's 5-3 vote in July to urge Casteel to approve the permit for the city's lone theater. Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley also notified the division that he had no objections to the permit.

Doug Hatcher of Ward petitioned the City Council to overturn its ordinance supporting the permit application, saying in an Aug. 13 letter to Casteel that issuing a permit would increase crime, send the wrong "moral message to our children" and place an alcohol-serving facility too close to a school.

The Cabot 8 VIP Cinema is located at 100 Cinema Blvd., about a mile away from Cabot High School on 401 N. Lincoln St.

Cabot Mayor Bill Cypert said last week that Hatcher's request to repeal the ordinance is a moot point given Casteel's permit denial.

"I personally believe the alcohol issue should be up to the people of Cabot, and the City Council represents their constituents," Cypert said. "As far as I'm concerned, it's a people issue, and that was done through the City Council when they passed the ordinance."

Tina Johnson, a Cabot resident who frequents the theater with her husband and children, said the petition is "hardly an accurate representation of the Cabot population's opinion, especially given the fact that our City Council has already passed an ordinance in favor of the permit without any notable opposition."

Cabot, a growing suburb about 26 miles northeast of Little Rock, has a population of about 26,000.

"Personally, I'm in favor of it," Johnson said. "I think the option to have a beer or glass of wine during a movie would add to its relaxation and entertainment value."

Cabot resident Samantha Johnston, who is mother to Emersyn, age 2, said she can see both sides of the issue.

"I'm a mom and when my child is old enough to go to the movies like I did with my friends, I'm not sure I would be thrilled about alcohol being served," Johnston said. "Some people may push it to the limits, and also someone could sneak drinks to kids."

On the other hand, she added, it would be nice for adults to have a drink and relax while watching a movie.

Smith is also the owner of the Riverdale 10 theater in Little Rock, which also sells beer and wine to patrons.

Metro on 09/18/2018

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