By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
City administrators in Zeeland have been given the green light to draw up an ordinance that would allow alcohol to be sold in the city on Sundays.
The City Council on Monday night directed city staff to craft an ordinance that would allow both on-premises and off-premises liquor license holders to sell alcohol on Sundays – but not until after 12 noon.
The council will also consider as part of the ordinance whether the city’s social district will be included in the Sunday sales.
Since voters in November 2006 approved allowing alcohol sales by the glass in targeted areas of the city, specifically downtown and along Washington Avenue, the city has proceeded slowly in allowing additional alcohol sales. However, the city to this point has not allowed alcohol to be sold on Sundays.
City staff recently reached out to current on-premises liquor license holders to see whether they would be interested in the city allowing Sunday alcohol sales. The Gritzmaker restaurant downtown spoke out in favor, saying it would be a boost for business.
“At my other restaurants, Sundays account for about 20 percent of our weekly sales,” Gritzmaker co-owner Scott Ingersoll told council members. “Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the (busiest) days. With sports (such as) football, with church, the ability to do brunch in a breakfast-style of service would greatly benefit our business. As of the current moment, being closed on Sundays, we kind of push the envelope and break even. Having that additional revenue, that additional 20 percent, would be key for us to be able to continue to grow.”
Councilman Glenn Kass, who works at a local grocer, spoke out in favor of allowing both off-premises packaged liquor sales as well as on-premises sales in restaurants.
“My experience, at my place of work, Sunday alcohol sales, it's not a big deal,” Kass said. “So part of me says, 'Let's just rip the Band-Aid off and be done with it', or we can come back and revisit another four years from now.”
Mayor Pro Tem Sally Gruppen remained cautious, although seemed more open to the idea than at a previous meeting. She noted that when voters approved lifting the alcohol ban in 2006, it was only by a margin of 40 votes, and says there are some in the community who would prefer to keep the Sunday ban.
“I want to make sure people feel like they have a voice,” Gruppen said.
Police Chief Tim Jungel did not think that legalizing Sunday alcohol sales would be much of an issue as far as enforcement is concerned.
“I would think the concerns for alcohol sales in the city are Thursday night, Friday night, Satur-day night, maybe somebody has had a little too much. We have not had that problem in our community. I think the same would follow for Sunday sales. We have pretty responsible people around here,” Jungel said.
After reviewing the draft ordinance, the City Council will call for a public hearing this fall to gauge the community’s pulse on allowing Sunday alcohol sales. The ordinance would most like-ly require two readings by the council before it would take effect.
Zeeland Record
City administrators in Zeeland have been given the green light to draw up an ordinance that would allow alcohol to be sold in the city on Sundays.
The City Council on Monday night directed city staff to craft an ordinance that would allow both on-premises and off-premises liquor license holders to sell alcohol on Sundays – but not until after 12 noon.
The council will also consider as part of the ordinance whether the city’s social district will be included in the Sunday sales.
Since voters in November 2006 approved allowing alcohol sales by the glass in targeted areas of the city, specifically downtown and along Washington Avenue, the city has proceeded slowly in allowing additional alcohol sales. However, the city to this point has not allowed alcohol to be sold on Sundays.
City staff recently reached out to current on-premises liquor license holders to see whether they would be interested in the city allowing Sunday alcohol sales. The Gritzmaker restaurant downtown spoke out in favor, saying it would be a boost for business.
“At my other restaurants, Sundays account for about 20 percent of our weekly sales,” Gritzmaker co-owner Scott Ingersoll told council members. “Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the (busiest) days. With sports (such as) football, with church, the ability to do brunch in a breakfast-style of service would greatly benefit our business. As of the current moment, being closed on Sundays, we kind of push the envelope and break even. Having that additional revenue, that additional 20 percent, would be key for us to be able to continue to grow.”
Councilman Glenn Kass, who works at a local grocer, spoke out in favor of allowing both off-premises packaged liquor sales as well as on-premises sales in restaurants.
“My experience, at my place of work, Sunday alcohol sales, it's not a big deal,” Kass said. “So part of me says, 'Let's just rip the Band-Aid off and be done with it', or we can come back and revisit another four years from now.”
Mayor Pro Tem Sally Gruppen remained cautious, although seemed more open to the idea than at a previous meeting. She noted that when voters approved lifting the alcohol ban in 2006, it was only by a margin of 40 votes, and says there are some in the community who would prefer to keep the Sunday ban.
“I want to make sure people feel like they have a voice,” Gruppen said.
Police Chief Tim Jungel did not think that legalizing Sunday alcohol sales would be much of an issue as far as enforcement is concerned.
“I would think the concerns for alcohol sales in the city are Thursday night, Friday night, Satur-day night, maybe somebody has had a little too much. We have not had that problem in our community. I think the same would follow for Sunday sales. We have pretty responsible people around here,” Jungel said.
After reviewing the draft ordinance, the City Council will call for a public hearing this fall to gauge the community’s pulse on allowing Sunday alcohol sales. The ordinance would most like-ly require two readings by the council before it would take effect.
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