By John Lyon
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK — A planned Bentonville restaurant will be allowed to serve alcohol, the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board ruled today, rejecting arguments by the city’s police chief that the business in dry Benton County would be essentially a bar.
The board voted 4-1 to overturn ABC Director Michael Langley’s June 18 ruling denying a private club license to Petit Bistro, to be located at 2707 N. Walton Boulevard in the building that now houses Hidden Springs Event Center and formerly housed Ozark Mountain Smokehouse.
Langley had denied the application because of opposition from local officials, including Mayor Bob McCaslin and Police Chief James Allen.
Allen testified today that he and the mayor believe the plans for Petit Bistro sound like plans for a bar, not a true restaurant. Also, pedestrians could be endangered because of the establishment’s proximity to a walking trail and a dog park, he said.
Business owner Dario Amini testified that the 1,100-square-foot bistro would be an upscale eatery seating about 50 people and offering Mediterranean cuisine. He said he is experienced in the restaurant business, having formerly owned four cafes in Los Angeles.
Though a dry county, Benton County already has 114 restaurants licensed to serve alcohol, said Amini’s attorney, Charles Singleton of Little Rock. Serving alcohol is necessary for any restaurant that wants to compete in that market, Singleton said.
Board member Tony Ellis asked if Amini’s business would have a jukebox and show ball games on television, like a sports bar.
“We are trying to be the opposite of that,” Amini said.
Asked to explain why he thought the business would be like a bar, Allen noted the small number of items on the proposed menu — about 20 — and the fact that Amini plans to stay open until about midnight or 12:30 a.m. on Saturdays. He questioned whether people would eat meals that late at night.
Board member J.J. Vigneault pointed out that a number of Little Rock restaurants have menus smaller than Amini’s and are open until midnight or later.
Some board members expressed concerns when Amini testified that he did not plan to require customers to order food.
Amini said that if the board wished, he would post signs saying customers cannot order alcoholic drinks without ordering food.
