Bay City 51% Sign...

[RJGold]

I was in Bay City Sunday and stopped in a small Mexican Food place for breakfast. I was carrying. After we ate, I went back out to the parking lot and got in my pickup. I noticed a 51% sign stuck in the corner of a window down on the end of the building away from the door. I did not see the sign before I went in and there was no signage on the door. The wierd thing was, the place didn't have a bar. I find it hard to believe their alcohol sales exceed 50% of their revenue. It is largely a restaurant and I assume serves beer and maybe wine (didn't check either of those out with breakfast).

I suppose I need to find the website and report the improper 51% sign to TABC.

[Keith B]

I am sure they sell alcohol, so they have to post one of two signs. When they get the packet from TABC it contains the blue 'Unlicensed possession' sign, and a 51% sign. It sounds like they just have the wrong sign posted and not at the entrance as it is supposed to be. You can check their license status here http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/PublicInquiry/Status.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I looked up Ricardo's, La Fuentes and La Casonas and they are all blue licenses.

You can find the local TABC office number on the TABC link above and contact them. They will get in touch with the business and make sure the post the correct sign and at a conspicuous location.

[RJGold]

Thank you Keith.

It was Las Amigas. I'll check them on the website you sent the link for.

I appreciate the response.

[RJGold]

Tried searching with several combinations of information.

Website kept returning an error.

Do I have to enter the Owner's name? I'm not sure how I would find that.

Thanks.

[RJGold]

Found it by removing the name and only searching the address (it's listed under Maria's Grill and Beverages).

It lists the wine percentage as 17 and says Gun Sign - Red.

Still not sure I understand that...

Thanks for the information on the website Keith.

[Keith B]

Found it by the address

License #: BG876089

Trade Name: MARIA'S GRILL & BEVERAGES
Owner: AMEZQUITA, LESLIE ANN
Location Address:
1501 AVE H
BAY CITY , TX 77414
Mailing Address:
1501 AVE H
BAY CITY , TX 77414
County: Matagorda Orig. Issue Date: 6/24/2014
Status: Current Exp. Date: 6/23/2016
Wine Percent: 17
Location Phone No.: 979-245-3600
Subordinates:
Related To: Gun Sign: RED

Per the TABC website they are a 51% location. That said, the name is different, so if they are now under a different owner, and don't sell alcohol or have applied for a new license, then they may no longer be a 51% location. The real way to tell is look for their license, which is supposed to be posted, and see if it says Gun Sign RED.

[srothstein]

Notify TABC. They need to use the same name for the business as is shown on the license. It is illegal to sell a business and have the new owner take over the license.

[oohrah]

That's not entirely true. A look through any county listing from the TABC will show business names different from owner's names in many cases. one of two things has happened here: 1) what you said, they sold the business without transferring the license properly, or 2) more likely, since the license is only 6 months old, their original sales estimate may have made them Red, and TABC has not yet evaluated their actual sales. In any event, they should be reported for a look see.

[Keith B]

That's not entirely true. A look through any county listing from the TABC will show business names different from owner's names in many cases. one of two things has happened here: 1) what you said, they sold the business without transferring the license properly, or 2) more likely, since the license is only 6 months old, their original sales estimate may have made them Red, and TABC has not yet evaluated their actual sales. In any event, they should be reported for a look see.

I would not disagree with srothstein when it comes to TABC laws and rules as he is the resident expert for TABC matters on the forum. This is due to the fact he taught TABC officers for many years at their academy.

The business name listed in the post by the OP does not match the trade name listed on the TABC website for their license shown in my post above. Now, they either have sold or changed the name of the business recently and the website is not up to date with the new license application, OR they are not operating under a legal license as the trade name is not the same.

As I said in my post, the way to tell is to check the license posted on the premises and see if it lists the correct name and whether it says GUN SIGN RED or BLUE. If the posted license has a trade name different from the business name, then it is not a valid license any longer.

[srothstein]

Thanks, Keith. That is what I was referring to, the name given for the business by the OP and the trade name on the license. The trade name does not need to match the owner's name, and very often does not. We all come up with names for our businesses. But the law does require the license to have the correct business name. If it changes, the most common reason is someone sold the business.

A very common problem is that a bar is sold as a going business and it would have no value if it did not have the license. So, the seller lets the buyer keep operating under his license until it expires. Of course, this is not legal and there are ways to make the sale legally and keep the business operating. In those cases, the new business name would appear on the license.

[oohrah]

OK, I see wha you're talking about. It's just that I've had trouble searching the TABC site because the name search has to be specific. That's why I use the county listings to get the license number, makes it a whole lot easier.