Sec. 521.

(1) Beginning on the effective date of the amendatory act that added section 521a, the commission shall not issue any tavern or class C licenses under this section. However, those licenses issued under this section before the effective date of the amendatory act that added section 521a remain valid and may be renewed if in compliance with this section. The commission shall renew licenses issued under this section before the effective date of the amendatory act that added section 521a for persons who operate businesses that meet all of the following conditions:

(a) The business is a full service restaurant, is open to the public, and prepares food on the premises.

(b) The business is open for food service not less than 10 hours per day, 5 days a week.

(c) At least 50% of the gross receipts of the business are derived from the sale of food for consumption on the premises. For purposes of this subdivision, food does not include beer and wine.

(d) The business has dining facilities to seat not less than 25 persons.

(e) The business is located in a development district with a population of not more than 50,000, in which the district, after a public hearing, has found that the issuance of the license would prevent further deterioration within the development district and promote economic growth within the development district.

(2) If in any licensing year the sale of food for consumption on the premises of the business represents less than 50% of the gross receipts for the business, the commission, after due notice and proper hearing, shall revoke the license issued under subsection (1).

(3) A license issued under this section is transferable as to ownership or location only within the development district.

(4) The commission shall not issue a specially designated merchant license, specially designated distributor license, or any other license that allows the sale of alcoholic liquor for consumption off the premises in conjunction with a license issued under this section or at the premises for which a license has been issued under this section.

(5) As used in this section, "development district" means any of the following:

(a) An authority district established under the tax increment finance authority act, 1980 PA 450, MCL 125.1801 to 125.1830.

(b) An authority district established under the local development financing act, 1986 PA 281, MCL 125.2151 to 125.2174.

(c) A downtown district established under 1975 PA 197, MCL 125.1651 to 125.1681.

(d) A principal shopping district established under 1961 PA 120, MCL 125.981 to 125.990m, before January 1, 1996.

History: 1998, Act 58, Imd. Eff. Apr. 14, 1998 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 282, Imd. Eff. July 27, 1998 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 502, Imd. Eff. Dec. 29, 2006