Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – An appeal of the Jonesboro City Council’s decision to deny a liquor license permit to a restaurant located near an elementary school was filed in Craighead County Circuit Court Tuesday.

The petition seeks to reverse the city council’s decision to deny a private club permit to 141 Prime, which was planned to be a full-service steak and seafood restaurant located at 2740 N. Church St.

The appeal names the City of Jonesboro, as well as city council members Janice Porter, Charles Coleman, Anthony Coleman, John Street, L.J. Bryant, and Kevin Miller – who voted in favor of the denial – as respondents. Developers Shannon Kee and Elaine Kee are named as petitioners and are represented by lawyer Martin Lilly.

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During an Oct. 20 meeting of the city council, council members voted 6-5 (one member was absent) to deny granting the permit, citing concerns over its proximity to Jonesboro Public Schools’ Math and Science Magnet School.

The petition calls the denial “arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion.” During the city council’s discussion of the private club permit, some councilmembers noted that other private club permits had been approved, despite their proximity to schools. The petition also notes this.

“I just wish that the city would follow its own ordinance that sets forth the qualifications. There wasn’t anything listed in it that are named by any of the city council members that said it failed for qualify for a license,” Lilly told JRN. “It’s really a shame to have to get into litigation, but we’re prepared to follow it through.”

The petition requests that the denial be reserved, that the court find the denial did not follow the City of Jonesboro’s ordinances and was “arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion,” and grant petitioners “all other just and proper relief.”

Lilly said the city council could revote on the denial at its next meeting, set for Thursday, Nov. 5. It has been rescheduled from its usual meeting day of Tuesday due to the general election. If a revote occurs and a majority of council members approve granting the permit, then Lilly said litigation would end. He added that he did not know if any council members were considering a revote on the ordinance, as a council member must present a revote.

“If we could get one [council member] to reconsider, then there’s the possibility that the city could avoid this litigation by simply reconsidering because we feel like we have a very strong case,” Lilly said.

The city council’s October decision is not the first time a private club permit was denied for 141 Prime. In July 2025, the ordinance granting a permit died in a Craighead County Quorum Court committee meeting after no committee members made a motion to approve it. The restaurant was to be located in the Sterling Springs area at that time.

“My clients considered [submitting an appeal] and then my clients decided that we were going to change locations,” Lilly said. “We were considering filing suit against the county on that as well, but instead, my clients decided that [Church Street] was a better location.”

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