Published: September 03, 2008 10:28 am         

Alcohol will be served at Shipshewana Town Center

SHIPSHEWANA, Ind. — Citing an estimated $300,000 loss of gross revenue because alcohol service was not available, Shipshewana Town Center officials have announced that alcohol will now be allowed at certain catered events.

The announcement came from the Town Center’s management company, Focus Hospitality Services.

“Most of the events that were turned away were weddings, and many of them were from Shipshewana and area residents,” Dean Morgan, general manager for the facility, said in a press release.

He added, “Several of the weddings simply were looking for a champagne toast to the bride and groom. One Shipshewana resident in particular had two daughters getting married this summer and fall and was upset that she could not use the brand-new facility here in her home town.”

Town Center officials will immediately start booking events where alcohol will be served. When alcohol is catered at an event, the host of the event enters into a contract with a third-party caterer.

According to the press release, that caterer must hold a supplemental catering permit from the state issued by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. Requirements for security, insurance, hours of operation, liability and hold harmless language will be included in that contract. There will be no events that are open to the public where alcohol is served.

The decision was made after a review of preliminary financial results and sales and marketing efforts for the center’s first year of operation. Also, officials looked at future bookings and business prospects in current economic conditions before the recommendation was made to allow the service of alcohol at catered events in the Town Center by a third-party caterer.

According to the press release, the decision to allow alcohol service was a difficult one for council members given the cultural traditions of the area. The decision was based on feedback from residents who live in town and the surrounding area coupled with the need to operate profitably.

Formal action by the Town Council is not required as the catering permit for alcohol is under state of Indiana rules and regulations.

Shipshewana town officials declined comment on the issue, indicating that questions would be answered at Thursday’s public session.

Eldon Hostetler of Middlebury, whose Hudson car collection was donated to Shipshewana and is housed in the town’s car museum, said the officials who operate Splash Universe water park also manage the Town Center and the museum.

Hostetler said this arrangement was established in order to provide revenue to maintain the musuem. He noted the museum wouldn’t have enough attendance to be self-supporting.

“They had to do this to satisfy people,” Hostetler said of the alcohol permit, although he noted it would only be for catered events and not a continuing license. “The facility adapts itself to that kind of use.”