Radcliff bingo hall reopens after management change

N-E/Steve Arel Southland Bingo in Radcliff reopened Friday night under new ownership. The former president of the operation, whose bingo license is being revoked by the state, will have no involvement in the business.

By ERICA WALSH

A Radcliff bingo hall is back in business after being shut down last month when its former president's operating license was suspended.

Southland Bingo reopened Friday under new ownership. The hall is now owned and operated by Born Free Inc., a Louisville-based real estate holding company.

The hall was shut down Nov. 5 after former president Gary Crowe's operating license was suspended on allegations he had illegally taken more than $102,000 from the hall over the last five fiscal quarters.

Chris Stallings, staff attorney for the Kentucky Department of Charitable Gaming, said Friday that Crowe's license remains suspended indefinitely and the push to revoke it will be finished sometime next week.

Born Free Inc. owner Tony Holland has several properties in Louisville and Indiana, but the bingo hall on South Dixie Boulevard in Radcliff is his first purchase in Hardin County. It is also the first bingo hall Holland has owned.

Crowe will have no involvement in the operation, Holland said. Crowe could not be reached for comment.

Holland said the business' decision to purchase the property was made because he felt he could help the charities that use the hall raise money.

"I thought a hall could be profitable for a company without being too expensive for a charity," he said.

Wes Auberry, president of the Hardin County Humane Society, one of Southland's beneficiary charities, was pleased the hall had reopened.

"I am elated; it's a gift from God," Auberry said. "We suffered tremendously with the hall being shut down."

Auberry said he had confidence in the new owner, particularly because Holland is planning to function solely as a landlord.

"He doesn't plan to get involved with the vendors or the charities," Auberry said. "It's the best possible thing that could have happened for the charities sake."

Born Free Inc. bought the property at the end of November, and Stallings said Holland's operating license was approved Thursday. The Radcliff Planning Department received an application for a business license Friday from Born Free Inc. officials.

Secretary Denise Haynes said the applications usually take a day to process completely.

Erica Walsh can be reached at 769-1200, Ext. 238, or e-mail her at erica@mail.the-ne.com.