The Lake Orion Village Council has approved a development district on-premises liquor license for Lockhart’s BBQ.
Owners of the popular restaurant, which has its original location in Royal Oak, purchased the former village hall at 37 E. Flint Street last year. The site is undergoing a $2.5 million renovation that will feature indoor as well as outside and rooftop dining
For a business to seek a development district on-premises liquor license, it must be engaged in dining, entertainment of recreation and must be located in a development district. It also must seat more than 25 patrons.
The village’s downtown became a development district n 2014 through Michigan’s Public Act 270 which allows for its establishment of such districts to enhance villages? downtown areas. It allows for the villages to recommend issuance of liquor licenses to these businesses that are in addition to quota licenses.
In order to qualify for the development district license, the owners must have spent $75,000 within the prior five years for rehabilitation or restoration of a building within the district. Lockhart’s is spending $2.5 million.