Hamlin's Corner OK'd; Royal Oak Commission Gives Ballantine Time to Revise Plans

Royal Oak City Commissioners on Monday approved the transfer of a liquor license for Hamlin’s Corner while giving Ballantine restaurant a chance to go back to the drawing board.

Hamlin’s Corner: Approved by commission

After hearing a mixture of excitement and concerns over the proposal for , commissioners voted to approve the request for a Class C License transfer from  at 30295 Woodward.

The proposed 6,700-square-foot restaurant/bar plans to serve pizza, soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches and fish and chips in the Main North Lofts building at 376-386 Main St.

The establishment’s plan to have outdoor seating and live music had some residents concerned about noise, but many other residents of Main North Lofts came to show their support for the project.

“As far as the noise goes, I guess I didn’t think when I moved to Royal Oak and bought a condo that faced Main Street that I would walk in here and say stop all the noise," resident Stu Johnson said. "I'd just as soon say keep the train from coming through at 6:30 in the morning or make the motorcycles not go by.

“To think that some people having a club sandwich five to nine stories below is going to take away from me, weighed against the benefit of the tax dollars and convenience that we are going to get – it’s a no-brainer to me.”

Ballantine restaurant: More work to do

Evolution Hospitality Group LLC's request to transfer the liquor license from the former Rumor's location on Main Street to open at 409 S. Center St. was not considered Monday at the meeting at , in order to give the group an opportunity to come back with a revised plan of operation.

Representing Ballantine, attorney Kelly Allen told commissioners after going before the Liquor Control Committee (LCC) and having a public hearing, her client knows there is still quite a bit of work to do. 

“Let me say with clarity that Ballantine is not going away,” Allen said. “But that we understand the concerns of both the police department and the LCC and that we would like to go back to the committee with a new plan.”

Residents of the nearby  were vocal with their concerns that another downtown bar would increase disruptive behavior and the need for police presence. 

Allen said the concept of the Ballantine, an upscale steakhouse with a Frank Sinatra-style lounge, will remain the same but there was some work to do on the location.

Commissioners approved the request for the restaurant/bar to come back to the LLC with a revised plan of operation.

Correction: The correct spelling of the proposed new restaurant is Ballantine.