THE NEW ZEELAND HOTSPOT: Zeeland bar ready to pour it in

Tom Kelley has often popped into Vitale's Pizza for a cool treat.

But with the pizzeria's ice cream parlor closed, that cool-treat habit is going to change for the Gentex Corp. engineer.

"I'm somewhat sad to see the ice cream parlor go because they served Sherman's, my favorite -- and now we'll go to South Haven to get my fix," Kelley said. "I wish Vitale's had kept Sherman's, but I am happy they're adding some barley pop."

On Tuesday afternoon, Vitale's Pizza will start serving beer and wine, ending nearly a century without alcohol sales in the 5,532-population community.

Vitales is the only business to apply for a liquor license in Zeeland since the ban was lifted last year.