Council approves Class C liquor license for Yummy Shawarma and Grill

The Oak Park City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 3 to approve resolutions supporting the issuance of a Class C liquor license for Yummy Shawarma and Grill, a restaurant at 12724 West Nine Mile Road.

Owner Maya Elias spoke to the council about the new restaurant, saying she is short-staffed but that customers so far have liked the food. “We're still short staff, but it's running,” Elias said.

Why it matters: a Class C license would allow the restaurant to sell mixed drinks and other on-premises alcohol; council approval sends the city's local consent to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, which must complete its review before alcohol service can begin.

Council members welcomed the new business. One council member said they looked forward to having a beverage option to complement the restaurant's shawarma and that the license would help the business succeed. Mayor McClellan and Mayor Pro Tem Sean Whitehead joined Council Members Julie Edgar, Council Member Radnor and Council Member Stephanie Crawford in a unanimous roll-call approval.

The council record shows the motion to approve two resolutions authorizing the license application passed without recorded discussion. City staff advised that the next step is state review: the local approval will be forwarded to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission for its final action. A city staff member said the state process determines the timing for when the restaurant can begin selling alcohol.

Ending: The restaurant owner thanked the council; council members invited her to call Director Kim Burrows for city assistance. The state licensing step remains; the business cannot sell alcohol until the state issues final authorization.