Council approves several liquor‑license transfers, including downtown restaurants and university permit transfer

The Delaware City Council voted Jan. 12 to approve multiple liquor‑license transfers and requests after police reported no statutory reasons to object.

Chief Moore summarized background investigations for several items, including a transfer of a D‑5 permit for Rosebuds (3 West Winter Street) and a proposed transfer of Ohio Wesleyan University’s D‑1 stadium permit to ABI Food Systems. "Police department did not find any of the statutory reasons that would cause us to recommend an objection to this transfer," the chief said regarding the Rosebuds request, and the council approved the motion by roll call.

Council then considered a related pair of items involving Sandbar Station and 12 West Williams (Hallihan’s): Sandbar’s ownership is applying for a consolidated D‑5 permit to serve until 2:30 a.m. while transferring three separate permits (D‑1, D‑2, D‑3) to a new location at 12 West Williams. Chief Moore told council there were no statutory objections and explained that a D‑6 (Sunday‑sales) request for 12 West Williams cannot proceed until a ward vote allows Sunday sales; the liquor commission placed that request on hold pending voter action.

Council members discussed the items together for efficiency and approved the grouped motions without objection. The clerk read motions and roll calls for each item, and votes carried.

Why it matters: liquor‑license transfers affect downtown businesses’ operating hours and the local nightlife economy, and the potential D‑6 (Sunday sales) request is subject to resident approval in the relevant ward before the license would be issued.

Next steps: the D‑6 request remains on hold until the liquor commission and a ward vote allow Sunday sales; license transfers and new permits will proceed as authorized by council.