The Ann Arbor Chronicle » The Arena

Fourth & Washington

HD — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 00:28:13 +0000

The Arena sports bar’s stainless steel urinal has OSU logo engraved in basin.

The Arena to Keep Liquor License

Chronicle Staff — Tue, 07 May 2013 03:49:59 +0000

The Ann Arbor city council has withdrawn its formal objection to the renewal of a liquor license for The Arena – a bar located on the northeast corner of Washington and Fourth in downtown Ann Arbor. The action to withdraw the city’s objection came at the council’s May 6, 2013 meeting.

The council withdrew objection when The Arena paid all outstanding obligations to the city on April 30, 2013.

The basis of the council’s objection to the renewal, which was made at its March 18, 2013 meeting, had been The Arena’s failure to pay a combined $8,755 of 2011 taxes and an additional default judgment. The default judgment was made in the 15th District Court by then-judge Julie Creal in favor of the city for $1,659. It involved non-payment for police services.

The city’s objection had been forwarded to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) for final action. Because The Arena paid the taxes, the MLCC was willing to extend The Arena’s license, conditioned on the Ann Arbor city council’s withdrawal of the original objection by May 31, 2013.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers at city hall, located at 301 E. Huron. A more detailed report will follow: [link]

Council Objects to Arena Liquor License

Chronicle Staff — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 04:33:57 +0000

The Ann Arbor city council has formally objected to the renewal of the liquor license for The Arena – a bar located on the northeast corner of Washington and Fourth in downtown Ann Arbor. The action came at the council’s March 18, 2013 meeting.

Jane Lumm at the March 6, 2013 hearing on the non-renewal recommendation of The Arena’s liquor license. She served as hearing officer.

The basis of the objection to the renewal, which will now be forwarded to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission for final action, was The Arena’s failure to pay a combined $8,755 of 2011 taxes and an additional default judgment. The default judgment was made in the 15th District Court by then-judge Julie Creal in favor of the city for $1,659. It involved non-payment for police services.

A hearing on The Arena’s liquor license renewal was held on March 6, 2013 – presided over by hearing officer Jane Lumm, who represents Ward 2 on the city council. Based on evidence presented by assistant city attorney Bob West, who called city clerk Jackie Beaudry and city treasurer Matt Horning as witnesses, Lumm concluded that the recommendation of non-renewal should be placed on the March 18, 2013 city council agenda.

Also on March 6, 2013 a hearing was conducted on the non-renewal of the license for Banfield Bar & Grill. Lumm issued a similar verdict on that case, but in the meantime, Banfield paid the taxes owed. So Banfield was on the council’s agenda with three other establishments that were recommended to have their licenses renewed. The three other establishments recommended for renewal by the council on March 18 – all of which had rectified any issues prior to the March 6 hearings – included Aut Bar, Bagger Dave’s Legendary Burgers & Fries, and Café Zola.

This brief was filed from the city council’s chambers on the second floor of city hall, located at 301 E. Huron. A more detailed report will follow: [link]