INDIANAPOLIS – Late last week, Indiana lawmakers in both houses approved legislation that would close a loophole that allowed Ricker’s to obtain a cold beer license, WISH-TV reports. The measure is now headed to Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Jay Ricker, chairman of Ricker’s convenience stores, said that the passage by the General Assembly was in direct response to his stores selling cold beer. “Despite overwhelming support both for Ricker’s restaurants and an overhaul of our state’s outdated and outrageous liquor laws, the General Assembly again decided to ignore the will of the people and reward those who have rewarded them. Those of us who believe the free market should offer as many choices as possible for consumers will be watching the General Assembly and will hold its leadership and its members accountable to their pledge of reforming these Depression-era laws,” he said in a statement.

The bill would grandfather in any business with a permit issued before November; Ricker’s received one permit in November. House Speaker Brian Bosma said that the timing in the measure wasn’t a coincidence.

“We’re definitely addressing their permits which are significantly different than the ATC had issued before,” Bosma said. “But we’re also treating them fairly by allowing them to extend their permits, at the ATC discretion, through the next legislative session so that we can take a strong look at the entire code and see where we want to go in this regard.”

In March, Ricker’s began selling cold beer at two locations that also sold fresh, made-to-order food. Earlier this month, Ricker took his fresh food concept to the state capitol, offering lawmakers and staffers free burritos, in an effort to convince them his gas stations served restaurant-quality food. Last month, Ricker’s gas stations started to sell cold beer at two of its locations.