Brandon Twp.- A beer war may be brewing in the township.
A row between two party store owners in the 2000 block of M-15 erupted after local businessman Mike Toma, owner of the M-15 Party Store, opted out of his lease and began construction of a new facility across the road. Toma, who operated the store since 1992, requested a transfer of his liquor license to the new site across the road at 2041 South M-15, but not before M-15 Party Store building owner Sheena Romiz applied to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission for a new liquor license. Romiz is currently remodeling the old M-15 Party Store and like Toma, plans to open the facility later this summer.
The aftermath could result in two party stores and liquor licenses within a few hundred yards of one another.
Ken Wozniak, director of executive services, Michigan Liquor Control division, could not comment on the specific township business dispute; however, he did say several factors need to be considered.
‘There is a restriction on distance between liquor licenses,? said Wozniak. ‘There is a half-mile rule where only one license to sell hard liquor is allowed within that area. However, the commission allows for five waivers to take into consideration to approve or not a license’such as the amount of traffic on the road and the type of highway.?
‘More than likely, one liquor license will be denied,? he added.
Wozniak said the number of hard liquor licenses are limited to one per 3,000 population. In the township’s case, there’s room for five licenses, with two already allocated. The township’s population is estimated at 13,320. There are currently five restaurants or bars that have liquor licenses in the township, and one store that offers just beer and wine, according to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.
‘In the case of party stores that sell alcohol, township officials are welcome to comment on whether or not they receive a license’but the business owners are not bound by that,? said Wozniak. ‘In the case of bars and restaurants, township officials have more control over who receives them and that requires a different type of license.?
Township officials have been monitoring Toma’s construction of the new 4,000 square-foot building since it started earlier this summer.
‘Do we really need another beer store in the township along M-15?? asked Ron Lapp, township supervisor. ‘We contacted the Michigan Liquor Control in Lansing and expressed our concern over the close proximity of the party stores to one another. Basically, the township has no control over who receives a license for beer or wine’it’s up to the state. It seems to us that we have a better handle on what’s needed in our own area than the Michigan Liquor Control folks.?
Lapp’s concern over added traffic congestion along M-15 through the township is prompted by the number of driveways along the highway in that area.