Sunday Morning Liquor Sales OK'd by Pointes

None of the Grosse Pointes acted to prohibit the sales and service of liquor on Sunday mornings. Today was the deadline for municipalities across the state to submit such requests. 

The addition to the liquor law gives restaurants and retailers the ability to sell and serve alcoholic beverages starting at 7 a.m. on Sundays through 2 a.m. Mondays. Previously the law prohibited it before noon. 

The Michigan Liquor Control Commission will begin issuing the extended licenses tomorrow to businesses that have applied for the privileges, said Julie Wendt, the director of the executive services division of MLCC.

A provision within the new law allowed municipalities to essentially opt out, which would have prohibited businesses within their boundaries from applying for the extended time. 

City Council unanimously voted during its last meeting to allow the law to stand. The other Pointes did not necessarily formally address the issue but representatives from each said there were no plans to visit the topic.

The Farms and the Shores are least impacted by the change as they have the fewest retailers within their borders.

"We have received notice of the amendments in our recent council packets, but right now nothing is scheduled to address it. At this point, we will comply with the new state law, and I think it will be good for local business," said Park councilwoman Laurie Arora.

Within the state, 24 municipalities and four counties sent notice of their resolutions to prohibit such liquor sales, according to the MLCC. 

Thus far, the only business to apply for the extended license is CVS, Wendt said. Both locations, and on , filed an application within the last week, she said. 

"We want to be able to offer all of the products we sell during as many hours as possible," CVS spokesman Mike DeAngelis said. "We think this will help to provide customers access to a wider range of products."

CVS submitted applications to the state for the extended license wherever applicable, DeAngelis said. 

Other local retailers and restaurants will likely apply, too. 

Paul Bourgeois, part owner of , said it's business as usual.

"We'll probably buy the permit and maybe open an hour early, but we're not going to get crazy and open at 7 a.m.," Bourgeois said.

Bob Larson, owner of the lunch-counter style diner Janet's Lunch in Grosse Pointe Park, also plans to take advantage of the new law.

"We are definitely going to buy the permit," Larson said. "While we don't make it known that we serve alcohol, it will definitely help us in the summer months with the boating crowd ... in a private club sort of way."

At the in the Village, owner Dan Lemanske is likely going to seek an extended license for the summer, he said. 

"I guess if the state has to find a way to raise revenue, more power to them," Lemanske said. "I will buy the permit for the summer months. While we don't have a lot of early imbibers, we have Sunday morning brunchers and shower attendees that request to serve champagne on occasion, so it will be nice to accommodate them."

Statewide, the commission has already received more than 800 applications for the extended license, Wendt said. The commission will begin issuing the licensure tomorrow and Sunday is the the first official day the law will take effect.

Writer Mike White contributed to this story.