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Commission approves new owner of Royal Oak Tap House, 6–1 vote after hours debate
Summary
The commission approved a plan of operation and the transfer of a Class C liquor license for Royal Oak Tap House to Rajesh Gupta with a 6–1 vote after commissioners debated the hours listed in the submitted plan (7 a.m.–2 a.m.) versus the applicant’s stated intention (primarily 3 p.m.–2 a.m.).
On Sept. 22 the Royal Oak City Commission approved the transfer of a Class C liquor license and plan of operation for Royal Oak Tap House (714 S. Washington) to Rajesh Gupta, with a 6–1 vote after a discussion focused on the establishment’s operating hours.
Lieutenant Cassell summarized the police department’s review and said the department was not opposed to the applicant’s request to continue operating under the existing plan of operation. "The police department received a request... and the department is not opposed to this request," the lieutenant said.
Applicant Rajesh Gupta told the commission he plans to operate primarily as an evening and nighttime venue and does not intend to emphasize morning or breakfast service. "Nothing is going to happen overnight," Gupta said of changes under new ownership, and he later stated, "we do not intend to do breakfast runs." Gupta said his near-term plan is to operate the business primarily in the evening and study the market before making any substantial changes.
Commissioner Colo voted against approval and explained the concern: "I'm voting no because I think it's [wrong] to have the applicant come before us and say, we're not actually gonna do what this plan of operation says, but please approve this plan of operation." Other commissioners supported allowing operational flexibility and noted that entertainment and dance permits are revocable if problems arise.
The motion to approve the plan of operation and transfer passed 6–1. Staff said the owner expects to close the sale this week and would return to the commission if the business later sought changes to the plan of operation (there is no fee for amending a plan of operation; staff or police would review and bring revisions back for approval).
Next steps: staff will complete administrative steps for the transfer, and the new owner may request revision to the plan of operation in the future if operations change.
