Your Bobbers Down, an ice-fishing tackle business, was granted a special use permit to open a retail outlet by the Saline City Council on Monday night.

Jamie Olson, the business owner, wants to use about 360 square feet for retail sales at the space he’s leasing at 1400 E. Michigan Ave. in the Sauk Trail Business Park.

He told the City Council that for the last 10 years he’s had an online business and moved to Saline from Maryland six years ago.

“This is a niche business,” he said, adding that he sells his fishing merchandise to between 180 and 200 stores, including Bass Pro Shops.

The space was previously occupied by Trans Western Publishing and is near North Eastern Uniforms, American Soy and Storage Pros Self Store.

“We were looking for a space and there are a lot of people who want to drive by and see the products before they buy them,” Olsen said.

Councilman Glenn Law, who is also on the Planning Commission, said he was glad to see vacant space used in the industrial park, but also wanted to encourage businesses to locate downtown.

“My concern is with the vacant space downtown,” he said.

The City Council unanimously approved the special use permit and Mayor Gretchen Driskell abstained on the vote because of a “conflict of interest.”

Lisa Allmendinger is a regional reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com. For more Saline stories, visit our Saline page.