Minutes - Council Liquor License Review Committee

CALL TO ORDER

2:33pm

Councilmember Disch called the meeting of the Council Liquor

License Review Committee to order at 2:33 p.m. in the Guy C.

Larcom, Jr. Building, 2nd Floor Council Chambers, 301 E. Huron

Street.

ROLL CALL

Deputy City Clerk Rachel Rickinger, City Clerk Administrative Assistant

Zachary Whalen, and Assistant City Attorney John Reiser were also in

attendance.

3 - Lisa Disch, Chris Watson and Dharma Akmon

1 - Travis Radina

Present:

Absent:

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Councilmember Watson moved and Councilmember Akmon seconded

to add an agenda item to New Business: Discussion of the Michigan

Theater Art Fair Outdoor Service Area Application

Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. Deputy Clerk Rickinger added the

item after the Resolution to Approve a Request from Anna's House Ann

Arbor, LLC to Transfer the Classification of a Liquor License from a

Tavern License to a Class C License Located a E Eisenhower Pkwy Unit

A motion was made by Councilmember Watson, seconded by

Councilmember Akmon, that the agenda be approved with changes.

On a voice vote, the Chair declared the motion carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT

-Attorney Seth Tompkins spoke on behalf of Anna's House Ann Arbor,

LLC. He explained that the resolution before the committee would

expand the menu offerings to include spirit-based drinks and would not

affect the quote license process.

-Attorney Ali Fardoun, an attorney from Miller Johnson, spoke on behalf

of A2Wineman, LLC. He reviewed the status of A2Wineman’s class C

license with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC). Fardoun

shared that all building permits were completed and the certificate of

occupancy has been issued and the premise is ready to be open mid to

late August 2026. Fardoun shared A2Wineman, LLC's request that the

committee recommend that City Council restore its recommendation of

issuance of a Class C license to A2Wineman, LLC.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

26-1123

Council Liquor License Review Committee Meeting Minutes of April 13,

2026

A motion was made by Councilmember Akmon, seconded by

Councilmember Watson, that the Minutes of April 13, 2026 be

approved by the Commission and forwarded to the City Council and

should be returned by 7/20/2026. On a voice vote, the Chair declared

the motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS

26-1119

Resolution to Approve a Request from Anna’s House Ann Arbor, LLC to

Transfer the Classification of a Liquor License from a Tavern License to a

Class C License Located at 445 E Eisenhower Pkwy Unit 1 - Anna’s House

Ann Arbor

A motion was made by Councilmember Akmon, seconded by

Councilmember Watson, that the Resolution be recommended for

approval to the City Council and should be returned by 7/6/2026. On

a voice vote, the Chair declared the motion carried.

Discussion of the Michigan Theater Art Fair Outdoor Service Area Application

Deputy Clerk Rickinger presented the need for a City Council resolution

to approve temporary outdoor sales, service and consumption of

alcoholic beverages during the 2026 Ann Arbor Art Fair for Michigan

Theater Foundation, Inc (d/b/a Marquee Arts) at 603 E. Liberty St. due to

its proposed service area being in the public right-of-way. This business

operated in this manner in previous years and its application for

temporary outdoor sales, service and consumption was approved by the

Ann Arbor Police Department for Art Fair 2026. Rickinger stated that

three other business have received approval of their applications by the

MLCC: Takashi Concepts MI, LLC d/b/a Slurping Turtle; Molfetta, Inc,

LLC d/b/a New York Pizza Depot; SRA2, LLC d/b/a Sava’s.

Councilmember Watson moved, seconded by Councilmember Akmon

that a resolution to approve temporary outdoor sales, service and

consumption of alcoholic beverages during the 2026 Ann Arbor Art Fair

be sent to City Council for consideration at the July 6, 2026 meeting.

Proposed Social District Application Process for New Social District or Changes to an

Existing Social District

Deputy Clerk Rickinger presented a proposed Social District application

for establishing new social districts and the expansion of existing social

districts. The committee reviewed the draft application and supported its

continued development. The committee requested staff to add language

regarding the review and approval process of applications (MCL

436.1551). The committee supports a $150 liquor license application fee

for this application.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Update from City Attorney Regarding A2WINEMAN

Assistant City Attorney Reiser presented a status update regarding the

A2Wineman Class C liquor license. Assistant City Attorney Reiser

informed the Liquor License Review Committee members that

A2Wineman had appealed the Michigan Liquor Control Commission's

(MLCC) decision to rescind its approval order of the A2Wineman Class

C quota license. The MLCC has since rescinded their rescinding of the

approval order. Assistant City Attorney Reiser stated that it was his

impression that the MLCC is in support of reissuing their approval order

for the Class C license but cannot move forward without local

governmental approval. Since Ann Arbor City Council rescinded its

recommendation to the MLCC for A2Wineman's Class C license,

A2Wineman has completed and closed out all building permits and

obtained a certificate of occupancy for their proposed licensed address.

The committee discussed the fast progress the applicant made to

complete all pending work on their premises and obtain their certificate of

occupancy. The committee recognized the complex nature of the overall

project and expressed pleasure that the applicant is ready to open. The

legal counsel for the applicant affirmed that they should be ready to open

mid to late August 2026.

Councilmember Akmon moved, seconded by Councilmember Watson,

that a resolution to rescind any previous recommendations regarding

A2wineman, LLC and approve issuance of a new full-year Class C quota

liquor license in the City of Ann ARbor to A2Wineman, LLC to 504-512 S.

Main St. be presented to City Council on the July 20, 2026 agenda. On a

voice vote, the motion passed.

INFORMATION/UPCOMING BUSINESS

None.

ADJOURNMENT

Seeing no further business before the Committee, Chair Disch

called the meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m.

All persons are encouraged to participate in public meetings. Citizens requiring

translation or sign language services or other reasonable accommodations may

contact the City Clerk's office at 734.794.6140; via e-mail to: cityclerk@a2gov.org; or

by written request addressed and mailed or delivered to:

City Clerk's Office

301 E. Huron St.

Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Requests made with less than two business days' notice may not be able to be

accommodated.