Section R. 436.1129 - Specially designated merchant license; issuance and transfer; limitation; waiver; applicabilityRule 29.
(1) For the issuance of a new, or the transfer of location of an existing, specially designated merchant license, all of the following are approved types of businesses:(b) A convenience food store.(c) A food specialty store.(g) A patent medicine store.(h) A tobacconist that is in compliance with subrule (3)(e) of this rule.(i) A department store that includes 1 or more of the stores listed in subdivisions (a) to (h) of this subrule.(j) A specially designated distributor.(o) A class A hotel licensed establishment.(2) The commission shall not issue a new, or transfer location of an existing, specially designated merchant license to an applicant operating an approved type of business who also holds, or a partner or stockholder of an applicant who holds, an interest, directly or indirectly, in a nonapproved type of business on, or contiguous to, the proposed licensed premises, unless 60% or more of the combined monthly gross sales of the approved and nonapproved businesses are of goods and services customarily marketed by the approved type of business. For the purposes of this subrule, combined monthly gross sales are sales exclusive of all taxes collected by a retailer on sales and are computed for an accounting period of not less than 180 consecutive days. The commission may approve an application under this rule subject to the condition that the applicant shall demonstrate compliance with this subrule at the end of the 180-day accounting period. The commission shall cancel the license if the licensee has failed to comply with the provisions of this subrule at the end of the 180-day accounting period.(3) The commission shall not issue a specially designated merchant license to any of the following entities and shall not allow any of the following entities to change the nature of an existing business that has a specially designated merchant license:(a) An applicant who owns motor vehicle fuel pumps which are at the same location as, which are operated in conjunction with, or which are a part of, the proposed licensed business.(b) An applicant who holds any financial interest, directly or indirectly, in the establishment, maintenance, operation, or promotion of the sale of motor vehicle fuel at the proposed location of, in conjunction with, or as a part of, the proposed licensed business.(c) An applicant who holds any interest, directly or indirectly, by ownership in fee, leasehold, mortgage, or otherwise, in the establishment, maintenance, operation, or promotion of the sale of motor vehicle fuel at the proposed location of, in conjunction with, or as a part of, the proposed licensed business.(d) An applicant who holds any interest, directly or indirectly, through interlocking stock ownership in a corporation or through interlocking directors in a corporation engaged in the establishment, maintenance, operation, or promotion of the sale of motor vehicle fuel at the proposed location of, in conjunction with, or as a part of, the proposed licensed business.(e) An applicant at any location at which motor vehicle fuel is sold or offered for sale by any person, whether or not the applicant has any interest or derives any profit from the sale.(4) In determining the qualifications of an applicant for or the holder of a specially designated merchant license to own or operate motor vehicle fuel pumps on or adjacent to the licensed premises under the provisions of section 541(1) of 1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1541(1), the following shall apply:(a) The minimum inventory required shall exclude alcoholic liquor, motor vehicle fuel, and any merchandise acquired on a consignment basis and not less than 60% of this inventory shall consist of goods and services which, in themselves, would qualify the applicant or licensee for licensure under subrule (1) of this rule.(b) In the case of a department store, as defined in R 436.1001(e), the inventory attributable to that department which qualifies the business for licensure shall consist of not less than 60% of goods and services which, in themselves, would qualify the business for licensure under subrule (1) of this rule.(c) The distance between the motor vehicle fuel pumps and the site of payment and selection of alcoholic liquor shall be determined by measuring from the motor vehicle fuel pump nearest the licensed premises to that part of the licensed premises nearest the motor vehicle fuel pumps.(5) In a city, incorporated village, or township that has a population of 3,000 or fewer people, the commission may, in its discretion, waive the provisions of subrules (1), (2), and (3) of this rule if the applicant for a license has and maintains a minimum inventory on the premises, excluding alcoholic liquor, of not less than $10,000.00, at cost, of the goods and services customarily marketed by approved types of businesses. The commission shall accept the means prescribed in R 436.1141(1) as a method for determining the population of a city, incorporated village, or township.(6) In a township which is comprised of 72 square miles or more and which has a population of 7,500 or fewer people, the commission may, in its discretion, waive the provisions of subrule (3) of this rule if the applicant for a license has and maintains a minimum inventory on the premises, excluding alcoholic liquor, of not less than $10,000.00, at cost, of the goods and services customarily marketed by approved types of businesses.(7) The commission shall not issue a specially designated merchant license to an applicant who operates a drive-in or drive-through establishment and shall not allow an applicant who operates a drive-in or drive-through establishment to change the nature of an existing business that has a specially designated merchant license.(8) The commission shall not issue a specially designated merchant license to an applicant who operates a drive-up or walk-up window for the sale of alcoholic liquor at the proposed location and shall not allow a person who holds a specially designated merchant license to change the nature of the existing licensed business to include a drive-up or walk-up window which permits the sale of alcoholic liquor through the drive-up or walk-up window.(9) This rule does not apply to the renewal of an existing specially designated merchant license that is in operation before the effective date of this rule and does not apply to a new specially designated merchant license or the transfer of location of a specially designated merchant license conditionally approved by the commission before the effective date of this rule.Mich. Admin. Code R. 436.1129
1979 AC; 1985 AACS; 1998-2000 AACS; 2004 AACS; 2005 AACS