Sunday beer, wine sales in most of Ottawa County begin this weekend with Nov. 4 vote's certification
Press Photo/Mark Copier
Park Township resident Bob Melcher drinks a beer Friday while waiting for his takeout food order at Blazers Sports Pub and Bistro. The Holland Township business is ready to serve beer and wine on Sunday for the first time.
OTTAWA COUNTY -- Bob Melcher sat inside Blazers Sports Pub & Bistro on Friday enjoying a Bell's Best Brown ale at the Holland Township establishment on his day off.
The 32-year-old Park Township resident said he was happy with Ottawa County voters last week approving Sunday sales of beer and wine. He said he never understood why the county banned beer and wine but allowed sale of spirits by the glass on Sundays.
"It didn't make any sense. It was illogical," Melcher said.
The reality is that Sunday, beer and wine can be sold across most of the county.
The Ottawa County Board of Canvassers on Friday certified the election results from Nov. 4, when more than 67 percent of voters approved lifting the county's Sunday beer-and-wine ban.
The vote to end the ban was 90,501-43,722, Clerk Dan Krueger said. The certification was faxed immediately to the state Liquor Control Commission.
In an opinion, county attorney Greg Rappleye said legalization of Sunday sales goes into effect the first Sunday after ballots are certified.
"We've put a lot of time, effort and money into it, getting petitions signed," said Mindi Hedin, a server at Blazers. "It's about time."
The Say Yes to Sunday Committee presented 42,821 signatures to put the proposal on the ballot, more than the 37,756 needed. The committee raised more than $97,000 for the effort.
Bars and restaurants in the county have served spirits by the glass on Sundays under a 1981 county board decision, approved by a 6-5 margin. Not lifted with that decision was the ban on beer and wine sales on Sunday.
Under rules of local control, Olive and Zeeland townships do not allow alcohol sales, Zeeland only allows alcohol sales Monday through Saturday and Holland is working to lift its Sunday bans.
On Wednesday, the Holland City Council will consider a proposal to end the city's bans on Sunday beer, wine and packaged spirits sales.
It has not been that long since alcohol sales were allowed in Hudsonville and Zeeland.
Zeeland voters lifted a nearly 100-year-old ban on alcohol sales in November 2006. Vitale's Pizza has the city's only license offering beer and wine sales and, on Thursday night, marked its first anniversary serving alcohol
Ajay Seghal, who owns AJ's One Stop in Holland Township, is seeking a packaged liquor license for a proposed Asian grocery and deli in Batts Plaza, where Vitale's is located.
The City Council already has endorsed Seghal's application, with the city's Planning Commission scheduled to vote Wednesday on a site plan for the new store.
Hudsonville voters approved liquor sales last November, with three licenses approved to date. Two went for packaged beer, wine and spirits sales at the city's two Family Fare supermarkets, owned by Bryon Townhip-based Spartan Stores Inc. The other went to The Pinnacle Center, according to the state Liquor Control Commission.
"It certainly opens doors for us, but the immediate impact would not be like it would for a party store or restaurant," Pinnacle Center co-owner Donna Worst said.
The county board is expected to decide Nov. 25 whether to lift the Sunday ban on sales of packaged spirits. The county board's Planning and Policy Committee voted 3-1 Thursday to recommend ending the packaged spirits ban.
Establishments wanting to sell vodka, whiskey or other hard liquor must wait until the county approves the change before applying for a license to sell spirits, said Rick Perkins, director of enforcement for the state Liquor Control Commission.
Alcohol sales definitely have a market.
Marshall Chase's GVL Party Store at 4963 Lake Michigan Drive has been open for 16 years and GVL West at 11233 68th Ave. for 3 1/2 years in Allendale Township. He said he is ready for the new Sunday business, having hired two additional employees for the two stores to bring his workforce to 12.
"I expect it to be busier (this Sunday), just for the novelty of it," Chase said.
While it might take time for buying habits to adjust to the change, he says it will be good for business in the long-term.
Sunday beer, wine sales in most of Ottawa County begin this weekend with Nov. 4 vote's certification
by The Grand Rapids Press
Friday November 14, 2008, 2:20 PM
Press Photo/Mark Copier
Park Township resident Bob Melcher drinks a beer Friday while waiting for his takeout food order at Blazers Sports Pub and Bistro. The Holland Township business is ready to serve beer and wine on Sunday for the first time.
OTTAWA COUNTY -- Bob Melcher sat inside Blazers Sports Pub & Bistro on Friday enjoying a Bell's Best Brown ale at the Holland Township establishment on his day off.
The 32-year-old Park Township resident said he was happy with Ottawa County voters last week approving Sunday sales of beer and wine. He said he never understood why the county banned beer and wine but allowed sale of spirits by the glass on Sundays.
"It didn't make any sense. It was illogical," Melcher said.
The reality is that Sunday, beer and wine can be sold across most of the county.
The Ottawa County Board of Canvassers on Friday certified the election results from Nov. 4, when more than 67 percent of voters approved lifting the county's Sunday beer-and-wine ban.
The vote to end the ban was 90,501-43,722, Clerk Dan Krueger said. The certification was faxed immediately to the state Liquor Control Commission.
In an opinion, county attorney Greg Rappleye said legalization of Sunday sales goes into effect the first Sunday after ballots are certified.
"We've put a lot of time, effort and money into it, getting petitions signed," said Mindi Hedin, a server at Blazers. "It's about time."
The Say Yes to Sunday Committee presented 42,821 signatures to put the proposal on the ballot, more than the 37,756 needed. The committee raised more than $97,000 for the effort.
Bars and restaurants in the county have served spirits by the glass on Sundays under a 1981 county board decision, approved by a 6-5 margin. Not lifted with that decision was the ban on beer and wine sales on Sunday.
Under rules of local control, Olive and Zeeland townships do not allow alcohol sales, Zeeland only allows alcohol sales Monday through Saturday and Holland is working to lift its Sunday bans.
On Wednesday, the Holland City Council will consider a proposal to end the city's bans on Sunday beer, wine and packaged spirits sales.
It has not been that long since alcohol sales were allowed in Hudsonville and Zeeland.
Zeeland voters lifted a nearly 100-year-old ban on alcohol sales in November 2006. Vitale's Pizza has the city's only license offering beer and wine sales and, on Thursday night, marked its first anniversary serving alcohol
Ajay Seghal, who owns AJ's One Stop in Holland Township, is seeking a packaged liquor license for a proposed Asian grocery and deli in Batts Plaza, where Vitale's is located.
The City Council already has endorsed Seghal's application, with the city's Planning Commission scheduled to vote Wednesday on a site plan for the new store.
Hudsonville voters approved liquor sales last November, with three licenses approved to date. Two went for packaged beer, wine and spirits sales at the city's two Family Fare supermarkets, owned by Bryon Townhip-based Spartan Stores Inc. The other went to The Pinnacle Center, according to the state Liquor Control Commission.
"It certainly opens doors for us, but the immediate impact would not be like it would for a party store or restaurant," Pinnacle Center co-owner Donna Worst said.
The county board is expected to decide Nov. 25 whether to lift the Sunday ban on sales of packaged spirits. The county board's Planning and Policy Committee voted 3-1 Thursday to recommend ending the packaged spirits ban.
Establishments wanting to sell vodka, whiskey or other hard liquor must wait until the county approves the change before applying for a license to sell spirits, said Rick Perkins, director of enforcement for the state Liquor Control Commission.
Alcohol sales definitely have a market.
Marshall Chase's GVL Party Store at 4963 Lake Michigan Drive has been open for 16 years and GVL West at 11233 68th Ave. for 3 1/2 years in Allendale Township. He said he is ready for the new Sunday business, having hired two additional employees for the two stores to bring his workforce to 12.
"I expect it to be busier (this Sunday), just for the novelty of it," Chase said.
While it might take time for buying habits to adjust to the change, he says it will be good for business in the long-term.
"If (sales) go up by 5 percent, I'll be happy," Chase said.