Munchies Opens in Benwood Plaza; Has Police Connection
By BETHANY A. ROMANEKArticle Photos
BENWOOD - Two of Marshall County's top law enforcement officials are affiliated with a new video gambling establishment at the Benwood Plaza.
McMechen Police Chief David McLaughlin has teamed up with Lori Longwell, wife of Benwood Police Chief Frank Longwell, to form M&L Partners LLC. The partnership owns and operates the new Munchies establishment, which is located in the former Radio Shack site.
"We were trying to get that plaza developed because it was empty, so Dave McLaughlin and my wife decided to try to jumpstart that plaza by actually participating in one of the storefronts," said Frank Longwell. "Me being chief and related to the owner should not be a problem - it should be a plus a police officer (McLaughlin) does own it.
"It's a safe place to eat and to play the lottery games. I would feel very secure if I were a patron because it's the last place problems would probably develop," he added. "It's actually a plus for the business, I believe."
According to Lew Brewer, executive director of the West Virginia Ethics Commission, it is as ethical for a law enforcement officer to own a video gambling establishment as it would be for them to own a car lot or any other legal business.
"There is nothing unethical or no ethical concerns that I can think of for a police chief to own a business," Brewer said. "There are no specific limitations for a police officer or his wife to own a business. There is nothing in the ethics law that says a police chief cannot own a business."
When asked if the public may consider it unethical for a police chief or their spouse to own a gambling establishment, Brewer said he can't get into the minds of other people.
"I can't say what they think," he said.
Aside from offering state-sanctioned limited video gambling machines, Munchies serves a variety of hotdogs such as Chicago, Georgia, Texas and barbecue delight.
Other menu options include pizza and kielbasa sandwiches.
Being both a member of local law enforcement and part owner, McLaughlin said he looks forward to doing business with the public.
"Basically, as part owner in the establishment, we are happy to be located here in Benwood," McLaughlin said. "We believe that our establishment will be just fine with the customer base in the area, and we look forward seeing everyone stop by."
Benwood Mayor Ed Kuca said the new addition to the city has created some jobs and will raise revenues in the general fund. He also said the property is in a prime spot, complete with an Ohio Valley Regional Transportation Authority bus run, plenty of parking and access to the walking trail. He foresees more businesses opening at the plaza down the road.
There is a tenant actively negotiating a lease on the former Ames building, he said.
Munchies is open from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. Sundays. For more information, call 304-905-0593.
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JustMyOpinion
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07-08-08 12:33 PM
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WVneedsGOD: it is actually two woman. Gambling is not a sin, many people can do it responsibly, though there are many who have lack of self control. If it wasn't for the taxes made off of the gambling in WV, we wouldnt have all of the programs we currently have or they would be lacking more than they already do.
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Robertson
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06-26-08 7:50 PM
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Yeppers, TheRealityPolice. I won't name the name of the place, but both the one in Benwood and the one in Elm Grove quit serving coffee at 10 pm. They stay open til about 3 am though, just in case you get the urge to throw away your mortgage payment. Just call one up and ask them what time they quit serving coffee. Maybe if enough people bug them, we can force them to offer what they advertise. See how they like them apples.
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TheRealityPolice
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06-26-08 6:52 PM
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OK - maybe I am naive - do the coffee shops REALLY stop serving coffee but stay open for the machines? Isn't there some sort of law that says they have to serve what they advertise in order to even have the machines? That is nuts - but since I don;t waste my money in those places, I have no idea how it works. Maybe they will make those ugly horses he owns into hot dogs. "Well, this one won't sell - send it down to Munchies."
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Georgetwin
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06-26-08 10:38 AM
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That's 'are' in English.
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Georgetwin
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06-26-08 10:23 AM
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PCGS70, some sre made from chicken. You can request extra beaks and feet.
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MeanStreak
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06-25-08 11:48 PM
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you have a good point WVneeds. Look at the tax revenues and the better working conditions for the prostitutes. Why are you trying to condemn them for opening a thriving business?
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WVneedsGOD
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06-25-08 11:37 PM
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Okay, I can't believe nobody has stepped up and said how WRONG this is. Two men who are supposed to uphold the law, which is based on ethics, running a scummy gambling parlor? Let's legalize prostitution too, then maybe we can get the mayor to open a brothel. Where is this society going people??
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PCGS70
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06-25-08 10:14 PM
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The snack shop serves a variety of hot dogs?!?!?!
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ThomasTheBlack
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06-25-08 8:19 PM
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Anybody wanna bet whether this place serves hotdogs from open to close? I bet this place quits serving hotdogs around the same time the coffee shops quit serving coffee. Probably go in about 4 pm and they tell you, “Nah, we only serve hotdogs from 12:00-12:15. The machines are on if you want to play, though.”
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ElmGroveMan
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06-25-08 3:01 PM
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no one in particular just does not seem very compassionate as liberals tend to say they are. I was trying to stir in some conversation.
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wvforsale
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06-25-08 1:30 PM
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elmgroveman, whom do you think is a liberal for the eating remark?
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jj0204
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06-25-08 11:54 AM
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Can't you just see Longwell scraping someone's loved one off the road "sometimes with a broom and shovel" (as stated in his letter to the editor) while stuffing a weiner in his mouth?
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needanewmayor
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06-25-08 9:34 AM
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Hotdogs and video machines go together like lamb and tunafish. What, you don't like that analogy? Would you prefer spaghetti and meatballs?
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acousticportal
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06-25-08 9:33 AM
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Hot dogs and slot machines...Neil Diamond, you've got a hit to make!
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jj0204
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06-25-08 9:25 AM
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Longwell must have seen how well the place in Warwood was doing... nice original idea!
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jj0204
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06-25-08 9:23 AM
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Top customer will be her husband I'm sure....
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ElmGroveMan
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06-25-08 9:01 AM
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were is the compassion and the liberal attitude toward this shop. If they do not make it we can help them out. Why the gaffe about him eating the hotdogs? Not hardly liberal like.
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acousticportal
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06-25-08 8:29 AM
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Hot dogs and slot machines. Now that's a winning combination!
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PCGS70
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06-25-08 8:29 AM
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I wouldn't be too quick to proclaim- "It's a safe place to eat and to play the lottery games. I would feel very secure if I were a patron because it's the last place problems would probably develop," When crackheads needs money, they rob coffee shops. Even though there are security cameras they rob coffee shops.
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wvforsale
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06-25-08 7:05 AM
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Maybe the story was confused with when Frankie Boy owned the pizza shop in McMechen and they had "Illegal" poker machines. Better keep him away from the hotdogs, he might eat-up all the profit!
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