Bloomfield Township

Board approves Maple Theater liquor license with restrictions

By Robin Ruehlen
C & G Staff Writer

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Following weeks of debate, the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees approved a Class C Liquor License for the Maple Theater, albeit with restrictions, June 25.

The board voted 5-1 in favor of granting owners Jon and Lauren Goldstein the liquor license, with the stipulation that only ticketed patrons be allowed to purchase alcohol within the first six months of service.

The board also voted 5-1 in favor of allowing the Goldsteins to return before the board in six months, when the board could then decide to eliminate the requirement for ticketed patrons, continue the restriction or take other actions it might deem appropriate.

Township Supervisor Leo Savoie said the agreement with Cloud Nine Theater Partners allows for a two-drink maximum per patron, and no alcohol served in the patio area or in theaters showing G-rated movies. Alcohol sales are restricted to start at 3 p.m. on weekdays, noon on weekends and holidays, with sales stopping 30 minutes before the end of the running of the last film of the day.

Jon Goldstein said that although he understood the board’s concerns about allowing a precedent for other businesses if nonticketed patrons were allowed to purchase alcohol, he felt “uncomfortable” putting that restriction on his customers.

“We do not plan on being a bar. The bar has been changed to be a very small piece of the original floor plan — in fact, it’s probably under 1 percent of the entire space of the theater,” he said.

“What if someone wants to meet me at the theater, but I’m going to a movie and they’re going to dinner across the street? I can have a glass of wine, but they cannot unless they purchase a ticket. What about a film club that meets there, and someone in the club wants to join in afterward and have a drink?”

Goldstein said patrons from other local restaurants may also want to come to the theater to enjoy one of the many desserts and concessions that will be offered.

“They won’t be able to have an after-dinner drink with their dessert without buying a movie ticket,” he said.

“And while it’s such a small percentage of customers, it’s like the stained glass window analogy — no one notices the beautiful stained glass, they notice the one tiny piece of the glass that’s cracked or broken.”

Although Trustee Brian Kepes suggested allowing the nonticketed patrons access to the bar in the beginning and revisiting the issue if concerns arose, township attorney Bill Hampton said it would be wiser to start the other way.

“If you grant someone unlimited license and it doesn’t work out, it would be very difficult to come back and impose patron-only language,” he said.

Goldstein said that in the liquor license process, there must be a level of trust between the township and the applicant that the business would be operated “based on the facts at hand and what the applicant says.”

“Operationally and realistically, this is going to create a perception issue for us — not just with people we have to deny, but the people who are going into the movie and have to show their movie ticket. We’re going to have to keep explaining this over and over again,” he said.

“I just ask the board to have that trust in us.”

Treasurer Dan Devine said he was concerned with the portion sizes of alcoholic beverages, especially for patrons who would not be staying to see a film.

“I like idea that rather than start more permissive we start more restrictive,” he said.

“I’m all about trust, but trust needs to be developed, and right now I have some concerns. Not only are we giving you a liquor license, but in conjunction with that you have to have entertainment permit which allows other things than movies where we have no power, which could bring in a whole different element.”

Trustee Corinne Khederian said she fully agreed with Goldstein that alcohol sales would be a “miniscule” portion of the business, and that he did not want to limit people from meeting friends.

“I don’t see it as much of a concern as some of my fellow board members, but I am in favor of a probationary period to see if this concept works, and I want to go on record with my support,” she said.

Co-owner Lauren Goldstein told the board at its pervious meeting that Maple Theater would operate with a wristband system for alcohol sales, meaning those who purchase alcohol are first checked through a computer and issued a fluorescent wristband. The wristband, which is clearly visible in the dark, is notched each time a drink is purchased. All alcohol would be served in clear plastic cups for easy recognition. The five-seat bar will have a selection of five or six beer taps, and six to eight wines and premium liquors with a focus on Michigan-brewed products.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Robin Ruehlen at rruehlen@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1105.