Businesses in Ottawa County, neighboring counties could feel effects of Ottawa vote on Sunday alcohol sales

OTTAWA COUNTY -- South and west of Holland, 64th Street rolls through scenic Allegan County countryside. But the view isn't the only attraction for Sunday-afternoon drivers.

Local lore suggests much of the traffic slipping out the back of Holland is headed to Saugatuck, where beer and wine are sold on Sundays.

Ottawa County is the last county in Michigan to bar Sunday sale of beer and wine, a restriction up for a vote Nov. 4.

And, while more than 200 liquor-license holders in Ottawa stand to gain customers if the ban is lifted, border businesses in Saugatuck, Fruitport and Grandville could lose.

"It's gonna cut into my business, no doubt about it," acknowledged Bill Lamar, whose Dunes View Kwik Shop is six miles south of Holland on the 64th Street backway.

Piper restaurant owner Pat Eldean favors Sunday sales of beer and wine in Ottawa County."I pay my girls time and a half on Sunday because it's a busy day."

But the road runs both ways.

Straight north, barely inside Ottawa County, Pat Eldean sees empty seats on summer Sundays at The Piper, her Lake Macatawa restaurant.

Her food is good. Her view can't be beat. But she can't sell beer or wine.

"When you want to enhance a meal, it's beer and wine that makes it go that extra step to make it that delightful experience, and that we can't offer our people," she said.

Her situation is emblematic of the hospitality and retail business throughout Ottawa County. Supporters of the change say "nearly 10 percent of Ottawa County's economic activity can be traced to the hospitality industry," and note that tough economic times are squeezing those businesses.

Eldean compares Sunday to a Wednesday or Thursday evening and estimates she should be serving at least 50 more customers, with an average guest check of $25.

She also misses out on holidays such as Mother's Day and Easter, and profitable weddings. And when business groups arrive in town Sunday in advance of Monday meetings, they bypass her and other local restaurants because they want beer or wine for social gatherings.

"It's been very costly over the years," Eldean said of the ban.

Costly in time, too, she said, as servers try to explain Ottawa's odd alcohol laws: Restaurants may serve hard liquor on Sunday, but not beer or wine.

"Some people get up and walk out right there," Eldean said.

She has resorted to light-hearted placards to explain the rules. One draws on Macatawa's connection to L. Frank Baum, author of the "Wizard of Oz," and notes, "It takes a wizard to explain the liquor laws in our domain."

How it happened

Ottawa's split spirit laws date to two decisions:

-- First, a 1976 effort to allow beer and wine backfired. At the time, alcohol sales of any type were banned on Sunday by old "blue laws." The question of Sunday beer and wine was put on the ballot by petition, figuring it would pass more easily if hard liquor was excluded. But the ban was upheld by 53 percent of the voters.

-- Five years later, state lawmakers gave county boards more control over alcohol sales. But, because the beer and wine ban was set by referendum, commissioners could only change an area voters had not addressed -- hard spirits.

So, in 1981, at the urging of businesses, the county board allowed Sunday sale of spirits by the glass.

This year's ballot question was launched by a committee representing the food and beverage industry. It collected 43,000 petition signatures.

To have direct contact with that many potential voters is a significant political asset, pointed out Jim Storey, manager of the "Say Yes to Sunday" campaign.

The campaign is funded by $97,000 in contributions, mostly from small businesses throughout the county, Storey said.

If the law is changed, it would take immediate effect when the ballot is certified, probably by Nov. 23. That's in time for the holiday season, Storey pointed out.

Sale of beer or wine by glass or package would be allowed where local ordinances are not more restrictive: Olive and Zeeland townships are dry, and the city of Zeeland allows no Sunday sales.

Package sale of spirits, or hard liquor, on Sunday still will be banned everywhere by county ordinance.

Holland last year allowed Sunday liquor by the glass, in line with county ordinance, but prohibits Sunday beer and wine in package or glass. Organizers expect it will match any change in Ottawa's rules.

Drinkers going elsewhere

Sally Laukitis and Marci Cisneros, respective heads of the Holland and Grand Haven area convention and visitor bureaus, point to a broad economic impact of lost business meetings, conventions and sports tournaments.

On any given summer weekend night, 4,000 people are sleeping in hotels along U.S. 31 and in downtown Holland, Laukitis said.

"Inevitably, in the morning, they are getting up and heading down to Saugatuck to have brunch, to have lunch, because they want a glass of wine or a beer," she said.

Cisneros tells of travel writers who visit Grand Haven from markets such as Chicago and Indianapolis.

"Unfortunately, we've gotten bad press in those communities over the years," she said.

In Grand Haven, Steve Vink, 30-year owner of Tip-A-Few Tavern, knows people head north Sunday to eat and drink.

One place, Coop's Dock 'n Deli, in Fruitport, states on its Web site: "Just inside Muskegon County, which allows us to sell beer, liquor and wine on Sundays after noon."

Vink estimates 10 percent more jobs could be added in Ottawa's restaurant industry if only half the places now closed Sunday open up.

Bob Byars projects the change would add, conservatively, $150,000 to $200,000 a year in sales at his King's Cove Party Store in Holland.

"That's two employees who are going to be hired" he said, suggesting a similar impact on 200-plus licensees in the county.