Neighbors, Ypsilanti leaders wary about possible reopening of problematic party store
The list of concerns surrounding the former Brandy’s Liquor Shoppe is extensive.
In 2011, before the store was closed under a judge's order, there was a shootout in broad daylight. Drug dealers used to work openly outside the store. Neighbors complained of fights, shootings and threats from the store's owners.
There was an undercover raid by the Michigan State Police and Ypsilanti Police Department in 2010, in which Brian Hanna, owner Sam Hanna’s son, was arrested on charges of receiving and selling stolen goods, including liquor, to undercover investigators on five occasions.
Brandy's Liquor Shoppe
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
The owners contended that the criminal activity in the area was unrelated to their store and was the result of poor policing.
The store has been closed since August 2011. But now, with the store showing signs of reopening, residents of the neighborhood are wary.
“Our community has been peaceful without Brandy’s,” said Tyrone Bridges, who has helped assemble a petition against the store's reopening. “We don’t need to have these problems. There’s not a necessity to have another liquor store that’s also a crack haven. No, no, no. We don’t need that.”
Neighbors and city officials say the Hanna family has been working on the building, and neighbors reported that the store was recently open for several days, though it isn’t known whether or not alcohol was sold.
On Aug. 6, 2012, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission ordered the two liquor licenses owned by Hanna Brothers Worldwide be placed in escrow until they were transferred to someone who is not related to or associated with the family.
The Hannas can operate the store, but they cannot sell liquor.
According to a memo from Ypsilanti City Attorney John Barr, the Hanna family wants to retain ownership of the building but rent it to Frank Oraha, an Eastpointe Happy’s Pizza owner, who is trying to purchase the liquor licenses.
The Ypsilanti Police and Barr’s office have investigated whether or not Oraha has any ties to the Hanna family. So far, they have only found that the two parties share the same attorney, Charles Frangie.
Barr said there are few attorneys that specialize in dealing with the LCC, so he isn’t surprised that the Hannas and Oraha share an attorney.
Oraha did not respond to requests for an interview with AnnArbor.com and Frangie declined to speak on his behalf.
A Michigan Liquor Control Commission representative said the LCC Board of Commissioners will make a ruling on the transfer of the licenses at an upcoming meeting, though she could not provide a date.
Neighbors and city officials sent the LCC about 40 letters asking that the liquor licenses be revoked.
Barr said the city doesn’t want to discourage businesses from opening.
“We are pro-business, we want businesses to come to our city and we want them to be successful. But we also want them to be proper, legal and not be a nuisance in the neighborhood,” he said.
“We will be keeping a close eye on it. I’m sure if there are problems, the neighbors will let us know.”
Amanda Edmonds, director of Growing Hope, which borders Brandy’s property to the west, said she is willing to give the new owner a chance to work with the neighborhood and be a responsible business owner.
“The fear is that there’s going to be involvement with the same people and same problems as before,” she said. “From day one there is going to be no tolerance for that, but we should be fine if someone is willing to run a reputable business.”
City Council member Ricky Jefferson said he is waiting to see what happens with the LCC ruling on the liquor license transfer.
“I would rather see someone who will open the store and run it without all the nuisance going on,” he said. “The city has done what we can as far as taking it to court and making sure the people who owned it before have to have their license transferred. We have to wait and see. The city is doing their due diligence as far as making sure the new owner has a good application.”
Andy Claydon lives directly across Summit Street from the party store. He was one of the few neighborhood residents willing to speak on the record about the store.
“Since Brandy's has been shut down, the street has been quiet, and we've experienced no shootings or drug dealings. It's pretty harsh knowing it might go back to what it was,” he said.
Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter. Contact the AnnArbor.com news desk at news@annarbor.com.
Comments
Cameron McLain
Wed, Jun 19, 2013 : 7:51 p.m.
Everyone saying tear it down, don't open it, all make me sick. Yeah, the people working there turned it into a horrible place. It doesn't need to be that way anymore, it could be very beneficial having it there.
Honest Abe
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 7:35 p.m.
I just had a nice talk with the MLCC, and sent a letter, too. I encourage all of you to voice your displeasure of the possibility that this store could reopen. I will do everything in my legal power to make sure this place remains bolted up. Regardless of who owns or operates it.
mady
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 7:05 p.m.
Bulldoze it already!!!!
Resident A2
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 5:47 p.m.
I remember when this store was called Russell's Market (in the 1950's). It was a mom and pop grocery store and was a wonderful neighborhood place for us kids to go and get penny candy. It is so sad to see what has happened to this store. I feel for the neighbors who have to live near it.
Jay Thomas
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 5:42 p.m.
These type of stores are all over this state. They buy food stamps at 50 cents on the dollar and don't card kids. Buy merchandise to resell that "fell off a truck", etc. Naturally the owners make so much money that they never would even THINK of living in the community they "serve".
Honest Abe
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 4:02 p.m.
"Barr said the city doesn't want to discourage businesses from opening" Open this store and it WILL discourage businesses from opening in Ypsilanti. Nobody wants this store open! Perhaps Hanna and Oraha can open a store and ruin a neighborhood somewhere else! Take your store to Detroit or Dearborn!
beardown
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 4:23 p.m.
Abe, that isn't a fact, it is your interpretation of the situation. Fine. Let's block every single businesses that wants to come into town that doesn't fit the Ypsi dynamic that you want. We will have a couple restaurants, a couple nice bars, and a whole lot of empty real estate. I am in no way supporting the business that was there and won't when it reopens in whatever capacity it returns as. There are plenty of beer stores all over the world that don't have crackheads hanging outside...so maybe it was the owners and the people who frequent the stores nearby (plasma center)? Just replace the owners or keep nudging them until they sell and put in a responsible owner in there.
Honest Abe
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 4:11 p.m.
We have more businesses in Ypsilanti, than we did when this store was opened. Also, I am a business owner in Ypsilanti and I own rental properties, too. Whether you want to accept it or not, there is no advantage to have this store open in our City. There will be no benefit to it at all. None. There is a difference in opening a business in the wonderful City of Ypsilanti, and opening a Beer/Liquor store that has an awful past history and is located in a low income, troublesome area. FACT.
beardown
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 4:07 p.m.
Because they are lining up right now to move in?
beardown
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 3:57 p.m.
So Ypsi wants more businesses, but only the businesses that they want, which includes non-profit (non taxed) businesses like co-op satellites? With the right ownership and the right clientele, a liquor/convenience store isn't a nuisance. But if you put in people who are going to sell stolen merchandise and don't care about crack dealers hanging out there, you will get the same exact problems. Ypsi needs businesses that will pay taxes. The time to pick and choose is over, the city is broke and needs tax revenue. Most everyone doesn't want another Brandy's, so just make sure you put better owners in there. That is one thing it seems that the city council has some control over.
Honest Abe
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 4:45 p.m.
It just let's other potential business owners know - Ypsilanti welcomes you with wide open arms, however we will discourage anyone who wants to plant a business in our town that causes havoc for the residents, other businesses and the police. Your missing the point. Regardless of who 'owns' the store, it's an awful location to have a liquor store! Besides, Ypsilanti has a few too many liquor stores. For a city that has a tad over 20,000 people, there are way too many liquor/beer/wine stores. Again- FACT.
beardown
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 4:17 p.m.
I live about a half mile from the store, so stop questioning my knowledge as I know exactly what was going on. So what other stores do you want to block? It seems the liquor stores, Burger Kings, medical weed dispensaries, and other types of stores are not wanted in Ypsi. Anything else that is off limits? Ooh, maybe another plasma donation place, like the one down the street from Brandy's that brings in the people who used to frequent the store? As soon as Ypsi gets a reputation for shooting down businesses, which it is building a rep as one, no one will relocate or start one here. Not every business in the city can be Bona Sera or Wurst Bar or a small boutique store.
Honest Abe
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 4:06 p.m.
It appears your knowledge of this entire ordeal is limited at best. Perhaps being a resident in close proximity of this store location is something you have not experienced. Any tax revenue this store would generate, would be cancelled out by the Police presence that it will require, if the doors reopen.
Honest Abe
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 3:54 p.m.
If this store reopens, Amanda Edmonds and Andy Claydon should swap homes for a few weeks, then afterwards; have A2.Com interview Ms Edmonds and see if she is glad the new owner was given a chance. I bet she sings a different tune. By the way, can anyone say 'Straw Purchase'.
Christine Moellering
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 1:56 p.m.
Maybe instead of making the little red building across from Rutherford pool into the new satellite coop they should use this building. It would be a larger building and in a wonderful location with better parking. Ypsilanti Food Coop is a wonderful organization. It's a much better solution than another drug dealing, alcoholic corner store. I have friends that lived down the street from this store and they couldn't even keep a chair on their porch because it would get stolen.
Cheryl Jordan
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 1:32 p.m.
Don't open it !!!
Basic Bob
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 12:45 p.m.
when this store reopens, will the clientele suddenly change into something more palatable? the owner has not been charged with dealing drugs and firing weapons, so one would believe the people committing those acts are still at large in the community, hanging out at some other party store, crack house, or shooting gallery.
NoPC
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 12:32 p.m.
This store should to ripped down! There is no reason for it to be there.
TK2013
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 12:25 p.m.
Making sure that a "convenience" store like this remains closed is exactly where our elected officials and appointed staff members should be expending their time and efforts. Richardson and Jefferson should stop scapegoating medical marijuana dispensaries and focus their respective efforts on this. It is a magnet for gang-bangers, criminal thugs, etc. The city manager, city planner and city attorney need to get their respective heads out of the sand and focus their efforts on making sure that this "business" never opens again. In other words, work on something that has real meaning and consequences to the community.
TK2013
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 4:29 p.m.
Beardown: It was my hope that our elected officials and highly compensated staff would be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. Just a pipedream, I guess.
beardown
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 4:11 p.m.
TK2013, I kinda thought that having Lange and the city council focused on getting our city out of the red is a better use of their time. And the city attorney is blocking their liquor license. That really is about all he can do until their is another crime committed.
CountyKate
Mon, Jun 10, 2013 : 3:55 p.m.
If you read the article, TK2013, you know that's exact;y what the city IS doing. They have to stay within the limits of the law, but they're trying to make sure the same thing never happens again.