New Irish Pub, Drive-Through Panera Could Be Coming to Novi

More drive-through restaurants could be coming to Novi soon after the Novi City Council asked the Planning Commission to look into allowing it for several parcels south of Grand River Avenue, including the Main Street area. 

Property owners in that district have submitted a request to allow drive-throughs, including at the existing .

The Planning Commission will discuss the matter, hold a public hearing and bring back a recommendation to the Council in the future.

The city already allows drive-throughs in the area for banks and pharmacies, but not for restaurants. 

Council member Andrew Mutch said he has a concern about allowing fast-food drive-throughs in the area and would support accessory use only.

"I wouldn't want to see a situation where we end up with a lot of these in the TC-1 district because I just don't think it's compatible with the long-term vision for the area," Mutch said.

The area is designed for a combined pedestrian and automobile use, but Council member Terry Margolis said the area isn't really pedestrian-friendly as is, so she would support looking into adding drive-throughs.

Liquor license denied to planned Irish pub

In a vote of 4-3, the Council denied granting a liquor license to Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery, which is planned to open in where World Market was previously located.

The city is only allowed to give out a certain number of licenses based on the city's population, and Novi has just four left to grant.

The majority of council members said that the restaurant was not unique enough to give it one of the city's last licenses. The owners can, however, purchase and use a license on the market from a business that is not using it.

"We treat these with kid gloves because we get so few of them, and they generally are used to reward unique situations, unique circumstances, and in your case as stated throughout this document, your situation is not unique," said Mayor Pro-tem Dave Staudt.

The city asks applicants to demonstrate that the business would provide a good or service that is not presently available in the city or that is unique to the city, that the business would foster economic growth or development, and that the business represents an added financial investment by a long-term business or resident with ties to the city. 

Staudt and other members who voted to deny the license stated they are still happy to welcome the business to Novi and would support a transfer license.

Council members Laura Casey, Justin Fischer and Mutch voted against denying the business a license, all stating their support of the economic development the restaurant would bring to Fountain Walk.

The business is expected to create 200 jobs, totaling a payroll of an estimated $1.5 million per year.

"Sometimes I think we treat these liquor licenses with too kid of gloves," Fischer said. "We like to protect them so much to the point where we're not rewarding people...and I think they should be. This is a business that's looking to be one of the first in Michigan, I think that's unique in itself. We're talking about a part of the city where we need investment. We just lost the Great Indoors and we want to restore and reestablish the Fountain Walk area."

Fischer also said the pub-type atmosphere is unique to the city, especially since last year.

Mutch said that the city should support making the area more economically viable by helping out Tilted Kilt.

"We help out business in the ways that we can, whether it's through or changes to our zoning ordinance. In this case, the quota liquor license would help this business get going tomorrow, and they sound like they're ready to move forward," Mutch said. "We haven't had a lot of people coming in here in the past couple years asking for these licenses and here's someone who's ready to invest."

A full list of Novi businesses with liquor licenses can be found on the state website.