Ypsilanti Township Board starts liquor license revocation process for Grove Road Dairy Mart
Ypsilanti Township is moving forward with a process to revoke the liquor license belonging to a Dairy Mart where employees sold alcohol to underage patrons on multiple occasions.
The Michigan Liquor Control Commission ordered a 60-day suspension of the liquor license for the 2375 Grove Road Dairy Mart that started on March 18. Renewal of all township liquor licenses is considered by the township annually, and officials say the extent of issues surrounding this store are grounds for revocation.
The Dairy Mart on Grove Road in Ypsilanti Township.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
Mike Radzik, director of the office of community standards, said this is the first time the township has gone through such proceedings. He explained the somewhat complex process to the board.
Per LCC rules, a municipality can seek to revoke a store’s liquor license if it sells to minors three times within a 365-day period.
The Dairy Mart is owned by Saleh Hamati, who also owns a Dairy Mart at 10131 Textile Road. No sales to minor occurred at that store and its license would not be affected. A former employee sold to minors who were part of a Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department sting operation twice in December 2009 and once in June 2010.
Radzik said the township board would act as "judge" at the special hearing. The meeting would be open to the public, though the public would not be invited to speak.
Township staff and attorneys would act as plaintiffs, provide the board with their case and have the ability to call witnesses to the stand. Once they rest, Hamati and his attorney would have the chance to make his case and cross-examine witnesses.
The township board would then put the issue on the agenda at its subsequent regular meeting. Township trustees would consider a resolution recommending that the LCC revoke the Grove Road store’s license.
If the board approves the resolution, the LCC would likely revoke the license, Radzik said. He said the LCC only considers whether the license holder has been given fair due process and otherwise follows the recommendation.
Township Attorney Doug Winters supported the measure.
“I think this also sends a strong message to other party stores,” he said. “Other stores are on the bubble and might take notice that the township is going to follow through with enforcement.”
On Wednesday morning, Hamati said he wasn't aware of the board's actions, but underscored that he didn't make the sales to minors.
"That’s from the old manager from 2009, and I think they need to put it behind them," he said. "We really worked with them (the township) and I think we are going to meet with them, and I think everything is OK."
Hamati said he primarily manages the Textile Road location and previously left management of the Grove Road store, where the sales to minors occurred, to an employee. He recently fired his employees there, hired a new manager and spends more time at the Grove Road location. He also said he has taken significant steps to improve both buildings, which township officials acknowledged.
The 60-day period for the license suspension expires on May 17. The LCC also ordered Hamati to install electronic scanners that require employees to swipe customers' driver's licenses or identification cards. If a customer is underage, the equipment will physically lock out the sale of the alcohol. Employees are also ordered to take a course on selling alcohol.
Hamati previously had his license suspended in May for 10 days and was fined $1,850 by the LCC for the December 2009 violations. The Grove Road store was also cited for selling alcohol to a minor in 2005.
The LCC is also requiring Hamati to address code violations at both his stores and improve security, which Radzik said has been a serious issue.
Comments
jns131
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 8:16 p.m.
The one on Grove Road is right across the street from Lakeshore Apartments. There is also numerous housing behind it as well. So this is no surprise that they have sold liquor to minors. The one on Whittaker does not have any children in the area to sell to, so that is big surprise there. Glad to see their license is being revoked.
Turd Ferguson
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 10:50 a.m.
"the one on whittaker..." where is that at? do you mean circle k at huron/whittaker rds?
15crown00
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 3:46 p.m.
the fact is liquor was sold ILLEGALLY to under age people.,is the owner not responsible for his employees? something wrong was done. someone or something has to pay for it.rules say the license goes.So Be It.
Huron74
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 1:42 a.m.
No excuse for this. I still get asked for ID once and while and I'm waaaay over 21. Unless the minors gave false ID DM is just plain out of luck here.
Steve Pierce
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 1:40 a.m.
The City of Ypsilanti tried to revoke the license of a local liquor establishment for nearly two years, and the crackerjack city attorneys screwed it up so badly, the judge tosses the case because the city missed critical filing deadlines and apparently missed them multiple times. This cost the taxpayers of Ypsilanti 10's of thousands of dollars in attorney fees, filing fees, wages spent by city building inspectors and fire officials inspecting the property and then testifying at numerous court hearing and don't forget the hundreds of hours spent by police officers documenting the nuisances and crimes on the property. This particular place had more calls for police services than the next 5 liquor establishments combined and more calls for service than any other business in the city. All that money and time wasted and for nothing. [sigh] - Steve
Michigan Reader
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 12:02 a.m.
So, it wasn't the franchise owner who sold the liquor to underage kids, it was his previous manager. Doesn't make a difference, it's the same corporate (a franchisee can form a corporation to own a franchise) holder of the licence.
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Apr 6, 2011 : 8:12 p.m.
that wonderful example of a 'grove road' dairy mart (picture) is actually the one on harris at share/i-94 service drive. check your archives or take a ride by it.
Red Barber
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 12:32 p.m.
You're welcome, Chaz. I knew immediately while reading the post that dading was mistaken. Thank you for pointing out the facts. I too am baffled by the support of others. I find it odd (and somewhat suspicious) that so many people voted for the post. Then it was defended as fact by posters who claim to be familiar with the area, which clearly is not the case. Let's hope that your original point is noted, because the tone was uncalled-for, given that the facts do not support the assured correctness of the claim.
Chaz H
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 4:36 a.m.
Thank you Red Barber and Cindy Heflin... I drove by the Grove Road Dairy Mart today, in fact, and that picture with the article is recent enough that those unpainted boards are still there. My original point was that it seems there are quite a few people who love to jump on the AnnArbor.com staff as quickly as possible to point out flaws in the postings. Usually these posters are smug or sarcastic about their corrections, as "dading" was, and in this case dading was dead wrong. How "tdw" and "Turd" were so sure he was correct is beyond me, but perhaps next time, they should verify their corrections before spouting off.
Cindy Heflin
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 11:07 p.m.
We have checked into this, and the picture accompanying the article is a picture of the Grove Road store.
Red Barber
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 7:56 p.m.
Chaz is unequivocally correct. The photo accompanying the article IS of the Dairy Mart on Grove, not the IN & OUT at the corner of Share and Harris.
jns131
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 8:18 p.m.
Does it matter? They could have done a bad deed there too. Also a lot of housing and a school nearby to sell to. Never know.
DDOT1962
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 11:55 a.m.
Chaz, celebrate your online victory by treating yourself to a 10 megapixel camera, lol. Your photographic evidence was BARELY discernible...
dading dont delete me bro
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 12:24 a.m.
wow, i can't believe turd got chaz to go out in this crappy weather. turd, you owe him an apology. but yes, that picture is when that WAS a dairy mart...oh, not so long ago. you can't see much of the roof line in the picture here. i think the joke's on chaz though. (i can't believe he did that)
Chaz H
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 12:16 a.m.
I can't believe I did this, just for an internet argument, but I did: <a href="http://oi55.tinypic.com/255uv6x.jpg" rel='nofollow'>http://oi55.tinypic.com/255uv6x.jpg</a> I just drove over to IN & OUT and took that picture. 1100 Share, Ypsilanti MI, at the corner of Share and Harris, just south of I-94. I will not be apologizing. And, if you did not have the greatest username, Turd Ferguson, I would demand one from you. But, seeing as I am a huge Norm MacDonald fan, I'll overlook it and get on with my life...
Turd Ferguson
Wed, Apr 6, 2011 : 11:48 p.m.
Chaz, that's an OLD picture on your Bing link. Trust me, OLD.
Turd Ferguson
Wed, Apr 6, 2011 : 11:43 p.m.
Chaz, the "DM" clearly has Dairy above and Mart below. It hasn't been called "IN and Out" in YEARS. I think you owe 'dading' an apology. I used to live in that neighborhood too.
Chaz H
Wed, Apr 6, 2011 : 11:34 p.m.
Actually, "dading" is incorrect. I cannot say for sure if that is the Grove Road Dairy Mart or not (I think it is, but I am not certain, so I will abstain from that claim). But, I can say for sure that it is NOT the Dairy Mart on Share at Harris and I-94, since that is NOT a Dairy Mart. It is an In & Out. <a href="http://maps.google.com/?q=%22In+%26+Out+1100+Share+Avenue+48198%22" rel='nofollow'>http://maps.google.com/?q=%22In+%26+Out+1100+Share+Avenue+48198%22</a> The roof-line of the In & Out is not even the same as the pictured Dairy Mart: <a href="http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=r14jhh81183m&lvl=19.24710495611369&dir=351.04543743354685&sty=b&FORM=LMLTCC" rel='nofollow'>http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=r14jhh81183m&lvl=19.24710495611369&dir=351.04543743354685&sty=b&FORM=LMLTCC</a> I signed up for an account just to make this point. There seem to be a lot of people who troll AnnArbor.com just so they can point out mistakes and criticize the authors. When I have found an author's mistake in the past, I have sent that author a private e-mail offering up a correction rather than taking joy in their errors. Perhaps it is you , dading, who should take a ride by the IN & OUT at Share and Harris!
tdw
Wed, Apr 6, 2011 : 8:30 p.m.
You are correct sir !
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Apr 6, 2011 : 8:13 p.m.
besides the unpainted boards above the entrance... i recognize the cement block holding down the satelite dish... 8-P
Justavoice
Wed, Apr 6, 2011 : 8:06 p.m.
So when does the township start putting cameras up in front of the party stores?