GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The owner of a French pastry shop in downtown Grand Rapids wants to sell specialty cocktails that customers can enjoy with their desserts.
Bobbi Jo Blanton, the owner of Le Macaron, 132 Monroe Center St. NW, says mimosas with a scoop of gelato, adult hot chocolate, and chocolate-dipped wine glasses could be among the drinks her shop would offer if the state approves her liquor license request.
The specialty drinks would pair well with Le Macaron’s selection of macarons, French pastries and other sweet treats, and would give evening customers another beverage option besides coffee, she told the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority (DDA) last month.
Her liquor license request was approved by the DDA and the Grand Rapids City Commission. It must now be OK’d by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC).
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Tim Kelly, president and CEO of Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., which oversees the DDA, said it typically takes the MLCC four to six months to approve a liquor license request.
Le Macaron is a national chain specializing in macarons, coffee, gelato, cakes, eclairs and other French pastries, and candies. The chain opened a location in on Monroe Center around June 2022.
Blanton said the addition of specialty cocktails could give her business a boost.
While the shop is known for its coffee, some customers would like to pair cocktails with their desserts during the evening. Her shop gets a lot of to-go orders, but she hopes that adding cocktails to the menu would entice customers to dine-in, she said.
“We would like to have this opportunity for them to stay and spend a little more time,” Blanton said.