The council went through a series of conditions and amendments the restaurant must follow with the approval.

With the councilmembers’ unanimous approval, the special permit now must be approved by the East Lansing Downtown Development Authority and the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.

Seth Tompkins, one of the owners of the restaurant, said he expected some resistance from the council, but the conditions will make running the restaurant easier.

“We think it will be easier with these restrictions,” Tompkins said. “I don’t foresee this as being a problem. I’d like the opportunity to fail and show I’m not going to.”

Among the conditions are a 50 percent food requirement in sales, no less than 10 food items on the menu, no service of beer after midnight and security measures around the building and neighboring St. John Student Center, 327 M.A.C. Ave.

With the restaurant’s application for an Economic Development License downgraded to a tavern license — a license permitting the sale of beer and wine — Tompkins said the restaurant only intends to serve beer when asked by the council if that was the case.

Many of the councilmembers were unsure of granting the restaurant a specially designated merchant, or SDM, license, allowing the restaurant to sell carry-out beer.

Tompkins said the license would be used for catering, an idea he would like to make up a significant amount of his business.

The compromises made by the council and owners of the restaurant made the idea palatable on all sides, Councilmember Nathan Triplett said.

“There is a value to be added to the community by the establishment being proposed,” Triplett said. “These are compromises we can move forward with. More important, it’s our role to protect the community from risk and this seems like a reasonable compromise to me.”

The compromise involved more than just the council and restaurant owners. Members of the community, East Lansing Police Chief Tom Wibert and a St. John Student Center official all were involved in the discussion.

Church officials are okay with the restaurant as long as it follows five key points. The license must be a tavern license, the restaurant must serve beer until midnight only, provide carry-out only after 1 a.m., place security cameras outside and provide a security guard on Friday and Saturday nights, said Keith Tharp, director of operations at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and St. John Student Center.

“I go on the record, we support this operation on the five points,” Tharp said. “We felt that was a compromise if we’re provided those types of things.”

Mayor Vic Loomis said he was apprehensive to approve the SDM license, but lauded new businesses in East Lansing.

“I always applaud any business that sees East Lansing as a prosperous place,” Loomis said. “I feel very strongly as a community that we need to grow internally and encourage entrepreneurs and risk-takers to look favorably upon our city.”