Market making plans to sell carry out beer & wine
The interior layout of the entire Manchester Market building. No exterior changes are being requested to the building or parking lot as part of the Conditional Use Permit Application that will be heard by Village Council on October 18.
The Manchester Market, which is a combination of several businesses, including the Acorn Farmers’ Market & Café, Grand River Bakery, Grand River Butchery, Super Perky Pantry, Musgrove & Co. Coffee, and Iorio’s Gelato, opened on September 20 to great jubilation in the Manchester community. Visitors to the market have probably noticed a large section of the store which is still blocked off, however, with a sign that says, “Beer & Wine Coming Soon.”
The former Manchester Market was owned by Jerry Dobbs and Jeff Tanner, who decided to retire in 2019, and the building was owned by James Wallace and his brother Jerry from Pinckney, and their heirs, until the property was transferred to new ownership in August 2020. At some time after the old market closed, the carry-out liquor license that had been attached to the 455 W. Main Street address for many years was sold.
Obviously most local grocery stores do have package beer and wine licenses, as part of a successful business plan. And this market is no exception.
“When we found out the original license had been sold, we tried to acquire a new license for beer and wine, but no one who has a license is going to sell it,” explained Ken Heers, one of the principals of the new Market. “We contacted everyone in Washtenaw County who has a license, by both phone and letter, and no one is willing to sell. That leaves our only option to get a carry-out license, and it’s been a lot of work.
“We meet all the criteria to be able to acquire a new SDM (Specially Designated Merchant) license, but the stipulation is it comes as a package, which means, in order to acquire a class C license, the license includes the option of serving beer and wine as well as offering entertainment. That has never really been our intention, but in order to get the carry out license you have to get both.”
In order to get that Class C SDM license, the business needed to apply to the Village of Manchester for a Conditional Use Permit. All of the conditions from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission can be met within the current set up at the market.
“Please note that Lenawee Fuels and Manchester Market, LLC do not propose any exterior changes to the existing site,” said Heers’ attorney, Christopher J. Gartman of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C. in a cover letter to Village Council. “All property improvements will be to the building’s interior only.”
Contrary to rumors that have been circulating around town, said Heers, no additional building will be constructed and the “entertainment” part of the market’s license will be extremely limited. The application for a Conditional Use indicates, “although the new location would have the privileges of a full bar, hours of operation will be limited to usual supermarket hours. Late-night crowds will not be attracted to the market.” Current hours of operation for the Market are 7 am to 9 pm daily.
“If the Conditional Use Permit is approved,” Heers added, “we will have the option to serve beer and wine on the premises, and we will probably set it up, eventually, so you can sit outside or inside. But it’s the carry out that is vital to us. The bar and entertainment isn’t the reason behind the application. We have no intention of competing with bars. It’s really going to be incidental, and only for beer/wine — not distilled spirits. Our main goal is, and always has been, to have an SDM carry out license.”
The grand opening of the Market on October 16 will see some live entertainment, Heers said.
“We’ll do a lot of cool things that day,” he said. “We’ll have our food trailer available, and a band from 11-2, Bille Lewis & the Soulbacks, which is an awesome local band with a large national and international following. They’re really talented guys. We’ll also have games and things for the kids. But we are just easing into this; we want to bring good things to the community and thank everyone for the great reception they have given us so far.”
The Manchester Village Planning Commission will be holding a meeting in order to make a recommendation regarding the Conditional Use Permit on Wednesday, October 13, at 7 pm in the Village Council Room on the lower level at 912 City Road. The Planning Commission’s recommendation will be heard by Village Council at its regular meeting on Monday, October 18 at 7 pm. The public is welcome to attend either or both meetings.
“We have no hidden agenda; it’s all really pretty straightforward,” Heers said last week. “Anyone who has talked to us will know what the plan is. We don’t hide things; we are an open book — that’s the direction we chose to go with our businesses. We want to include the community in our plans and create a lot of opportunity here.”
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