California Palms obtains state liquor permit

November 23, 2015 at 9:59p.m.

AUSTINTOWN

California Palms and Hotel Suites at 1051 N. Canfield-Niles Road, after many months of waiting and debate, has obtained a liquor permit through the Ohio Department of Commerce.

The permit was approved Monday for Steve James, operator of the Fifth Season Restaurant. The Sunset Grill by the Fifth Season Restaurant is in the hotel.

Jim Davis, an Austintown Township trustee, said the township board had the opportunity to object to the transfer of the permit, but didn’t see it as necessary.

“Based on fact he [hotel owner Sebastian Rucci] had gotten a reputable person in the community [James] who had an established history, we felt confident about it,” Davis said. “Steve has a good reputation with the township. We hope he will continue these good business practices.”

Davis had suggested finding a reputable operator during his previous opposition to Rucci’s attempts for liquor permits.

Rucci approached trustees at a meeting last November, apologizing for not coming to the board sooner, and trustees began to give Rucci suggestions that eventually led to this permit.