Zeeland and Alcohol

For the first time in 104 years, alcohol will be available for sale in Zeeland a small, conservative city in Michigan. Vitale's Pizza, a pizzeria is the first to a liquor license in that city. The city, Zeeland, has a population of 6,000 and a conservative Dutch heritage. Last November, voters approved an end to the 104-year-old alcohol sales ban - but only by the tiny margin of 1,425 to 1,385.

Business leaders say they hope allowing liquor licenses will help the city to attract a fine-dining restaurant and spark new business activity downtown. However, there hasn't been the rush one might expect to cash in on Zeeland's new alcohol buzz. Vitale's was the only applicant, and to date no other businesses have applied for a liquor license since the ban was lifted. According to Vitale's Pizza co-owner Ryan Snyder, they will start serving alcohol in six to eight weeks. Link