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The Taco Bell Cantina on Main Street in downtown Royal Oak was supposed to stand out from regular Taco Bells because it served booze.
Now it's just another Taco Bell.
City commissioners voted 5-2 to deny a bistro-style liquor license after police opposition, Robert Allen of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Commissioner Kyle DuBuc says Taco Bell Cantina doesn't fit the vision for bistro licenses, an effort to emulate a popular concept up Woodward Avenue in Birmingham.
"I would say more that when we think of unique concepts, that would not include national fast-food chains," he said. "Think locally managed, local concepts that are bringing a kind of unique flavor and unique identity."
Jim Rasor, attorney for the restaurant's owner, said he's puzzled, according to the Freep:
"Beer and tacos -- I don't understand why that's that big of an issue," he said. "They go together like peas and carrots."
"People keep on coming in, wanting slushy margaritas. And we don’t have them, and they leave. The location is not doing type of [sales] numbers that are going to sustain it without these new novelty alcohol drinks ... (It) may very well turn into another vacant storefront on Main Street."
