Published: April 24, 2009 05:57 pm      

Burnside restaurant raided by ABC

Burnside — Bootlegging in Burnside may sound like an oxymoron, given the city’s unique “moist” status in Pulaski County, but that didn’t stop one local restaurant from apparently trying to sell alcohol illegally anyway.

Louie’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill, a recently-opened restaurant in the former home of Lakeside Pizza & Pub — owned by Lakeside’s original proprietor, Linda Bowling — may be charged with trying to skirt the system with their drink sales, based on information provided by local law enforcement. However, no charges have been filed as of yet.

According to Burnside Police Chief Eddie Glover, a representative of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Office observed on Thursday someone carrying alcohol into the establishment, which has been open for the last few months.

ABC Officer Mark Cassidy spoke to Bowling, according to Glover, and discovered that Bowling had been buying alcohol from other stores in communities outside Pulaski County. In order to serve alcoholic drinks by the glass in Burnside, restaurant owners must get the product via a licensed distributor.

Two cases of Bud Light and a keg of beer were removed from the site, according to Glover.

Glover said that charged are currently pending against the offending parties, but had no details as of yet on what those charges might be. The ABC will be the entity charging Bowling and the restaurant.

The Commonwealth Journal attempted to contact Bowling for comment but could not reach her.