By Erin McClary
C & G Staff Writer

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Dozens of residents showed up at Township Hall June 24 to demonstrate support for Tavern at Tina’s, a restaurant that’s sat empty near the corner of 23 Mile Road and North Avenue for the past 18 months amid litigation and ordinance concerns from officials.

About 70 people showed up with signs, marching outside for an hour before the Board of Trustees meeting began. Some of them had even received a “robocall,” asking them to be there.

Almost every seat was filled. Residents lined the walls of Township Hall chambers, some just anxious to know why an automated caller suggested they should attend the night’s meeting.

Nearly 15 of them addressed the board, most to support Tina’s. But some addressed festering issues about law enforcement, the township’s bidding process and even a possible recall of the board.

What it boiled down to, though, was jobs.

Two residents told the board they were offered positions at the Tavern once it opens.

Some accused the township of thwarting employment, holding grudges and playing political games.

One even shouted at the board from the audience, after nearly an unprecedented hour of public comments: “Do the right thing, that’s all we’re asking.”

Applause erupted after each supporter took a jab at board members. However, nearly the whole room emptied before the board had a chance to properly respond.

The owners of Tina’s Country House, a well-known banquet facility, have recently filed litigation with the township about their dormant restaurant, which is currently sitting empty next door.

Sisters Cathy Imbronone and Mary Jo Hadjisofroniou started renovating the former Mutt & Jeff’s restaurant, which shares the property with Tina’s, after the tenants moved out more than two years ago.

Now called the Tavern at Tina’s — nearly $780,000 later — the new restaurant was ready to open in October 2007. That’s around the time township inspectors allegedly told the owners they could open. But then, they were told they couldn’t; then they again were told they could; and then, finally, they were told some things needed to be fixed before they could open.

The township’s concerns are with parking — will the lot the restaurant shares with Tina’s Country House have enough spaces? There’s also a sewer easement situation that needs to be resolved.

Imbonone argues that the sewer situation is something that’s been there since before they brought Tina’s Country House to the location in 1982 — and, subsequently, something the owners shouldn’t be held responsible for. The structure was built in 1965, when the ordinances were different, she said.

There’s a list of things the township has asked be completed, but the Tavern needs to open and start generating money before they can afford to fix them, Imbronone continued.

With what they’ve already spent, coupled with what they say the township wants them to spend to fix the problems, the owners would have to spend nearly $1.5 million just to open the Tavern.

The owners and the township are currently litigating the matter, so details are foggy. Township Clerk Michael Koehs addressed some of the supporters’ concerns June 24, saying that the same laws and ordinances that are applied to Tina’s are applied to every business owner.

He agreed that there has been some confusion along the way, alleging that the owners would agree to comply with a township request, then back out. He also alleged that changes would be initiated on the property without consulting township authorities.

And the list goes on.

The Tavern at Tina’s will seat 84 and employ about 40. The owners say they pay about $65,000 in property tax a year, for both the banquet hall and the empty restaurant.

There have been three or four settlement conferences between the owners and the township. Another one is scheduled for first week in July.

Imbronone is hoping the support she received June 24 will still be ringing in officials’ ears.

Her attorney advised her not to speak out until things were settled, but she couldn’t take it anymore, she said. She had to answer the questions of friends, Tina’s customers and neighbors.

“I really didn’t expect that many people to be there,” she said. “I was very touched by the support.”

One supporter’s words hit close to home, she said: those of Kathleen Borgia, owner of Giuseppi’s Trattoria. She had similar struggles with the township in trying to purchase a liquor license for her small Italian restaurant at Hayes and 21 Mile roads in Macomb township.

“To have people take time out of their lives to stand there and say, ‘These are good people,’ is quite a humbling experience,” Imbronone said.

As a fellow small-business owner, Borgia told board members she knows what Imbronone and Hadjisofroniou are going through. She alleges the board has not been business-friendly like she’d asked them to be since her fight for a liquor license.

“I’ve waited for some change and I’m still waiting,” Borgia said to the board. “You say you’re business friendly — prove it.

“Bring me the recall papers and I’ll be the first to sign,” she concluded. “And when you’re jobless and homeless, I’ll still you serve you pasta from my kitchen.”

Trustee Nancy Nevers was disappointed that all the Tina’s supporters left the chambers before the board had a chance to defend itself. She thanked Koehs for stepping up.

“I would just like to thank Mr. Koehs for explaining the ‘niff-naws’ and details,” she said. “We can only do what we can do … what the ordinances allow.”

At press time, neither the board nor attorneys had contacted Imbronone in response to the support demonstration.

You can reach Staff Writer Erin McClary at emcclary@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1118.