MONROE - A longtime business owner from Argyle is planning to take over full ownership of Old Smokey's tavern at 1301 17th St. at the end of January as the current owner faces felony gambling convictions.
Larry Gordon, who most recently owned Cash's Bar and Grill in Argyle, is bringing his liquor license application before the City of Monroe next week.
The 56-year-old confirmed Wednesday, Jan. 9 he is also in the process of buying the Old Smokey's building and plans to live above the bar.
If approved, his liquor license would take effect Jan. 29, the day before Old Smokey's current owner, Jeffrey "Twitty" Conway, is scheduled to be sentenced on felony charges that he helped run a gambling operation using his bar as the drop-off and pick-up location for money won or owed.
Conway, 53, pleaded no contest in November to two of the eight counts against him.
His codefendant, Werner Rast, 51, was sentenced in October to 18 months of probation on 10 similar felony gambling charges and has since reportedly violated his probation by absconding to Costa Rica using a Swiss passport.
Gordon is planning to keep the Old Smokey's name and "continue to run Old Smokey's as it is currently being ran," with 99 percent of sales coming from alcohol, and bands, DJs and special events offered as entertainment.
On his liquor license application, he answered "no" to the question, "Does anyone else have money invested or any other interest in this business?"
The bar will employ five people, two full-time, according to his application.
Conway will not be an employee, Gordon said.
Larry Gordon, who most recently owned Cash's Bar and Grill in Argyle, is bringing his liquor license application before the City of Monroe next week.
The 56-year-old confirmed Wednesday, Jan. 9 he is also in the process of buying the Old Smokey's building and plans to live above the bar.
If approved, his liquor license would take effect Jan. 29, the day before Old Smokey's current owner, Jeffrey "Twitty" Conway, is scheduled to be sentenced on felony charges that he helped run a gambling operation using his bar as the drop-off and pick-up location for money won or owed.
Conway, 53, pleaded no contest in November to two of the eight counts against him.
His codefendant, Werner Rast, 51, was sentenced in October to 18 months of probation on 10 similar felony gambling charges and has since reportedly violated his probation by absconding to Costa Rica using a Swiss passport.
Gordon is planning to keep the Old Smokey's name and "continue to run Old Smokey's as it is currently being ran," with 99 percent of sales coming from alcohol, and bands, DJs and special events offered as entertainment.
On his liquor license application, he answered "no" to the question, "Does anyone else have money invested or any other interest in this business?"
The bar will employ five people, two full-time, according to his application.
Conway will not be an employee, Gordon said.