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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.16



                                                     Obligor No.
                                                                ---------------
                                                     Obligation No.
                                                                   ------------

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE
                                 Line of Credit
                                Prime Based Rate

$600,000.00

DUE DATE:  DECEMBER 31, 2004                       DATED:  DECEMBER 18, 2003

        FOR VALUE RECEIVED, on or before the Due Date, the undersigned, jointly
and severally if more than one maker ("Borrower"), promise(s) to pay to the
order of Standard Federal Bank N.A., a national banking association ("Bank"), at
2600 West Big Beaver Road, Troy, Michigan 48084, or at such other place as the
Bank may designate in writing, the principal sum of SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND AND
NO/100 DOLLARS ($600,000.00), or such lesser amount as may from time to time be
outstanding by reason of having been advanced hereunder, plus interest as
hereinafter provided on all amounts outstanding hereunder, all in lawful money
of the United States of America.

        INTEREST RATE. The principal outstanding under this Promissory Note
("Note") from time to time shall bear interest on a basis of a year of 360 days
for the actual number of days amounts are outstanding hereunder, at a rate per
annum ("Effective Interest Rate") equal to ONE-QUARTER PERCENT (0.25%) ABOVE the
BANK'S PRIME RATE. "Bank's Prime Rate" means that rate of interest established
and designated by the Bank, in its sole discretion, to be its prime rate as the
same may be changed from time to time. It is understood and agreed by Borrower
that the Effective Interest Rate shall be determined by reference to the "prime
rate" so established and designated by the Bank and not by reference to the
actual rate of interest charged by the Bank to any particular borrower or
borrowers and shall automatically increase or decrease when and to the extent
that the Bank's Prime Rate shall have been increased or decreased.

        ADVANCES. This Note is given as evidence of any and all indebtedness of
the Borrower to the Bank arising as a result of advances or other credit which
may be made under this Note from time to time. The principal amount of
indebtedness owing pursuant to this Note shall change from time to time,
decreasing in an amount equal to any and all payments of principal made by the
Borrower and increasing by an amount equal to any and all advances made by the
Bank to the Borrower pursuant to the terms hereof. The books and records of the
Bank shall be conclusive evidence of the amount of principal and interest owing
hereunder at any time. From time to time, the Bank shall furnish Borrower a
statement of the amount of principal and interest owing or outstanding
hereunder, which statement shall be deemed to be correct, accepted by, and
binding upon Borrower, unless the Bank receives a written statement of
exceptions from Borrower within ten (10) days after such statement has been
furnished.

        PAYMENT. Accrued interest shall be payable beginning on January 20,
2004, and continuing on the same day of each consecutive month thereafter. The
principal balance and all accrued interest shall be due on the Due Date. All
payments made hereunder shall be applied first against costs and expenses
required to be paid hereunder, then against accrued interest to the extent
thereof and the balance shall be applied against the outstanding principal
amount hereof.

        INTEREST RATE LIMITED TO MAXIMUM PROVIDED BY LAW. Nothing herein
contained, nor any transaction relating hereto, shall be construed or so operate
as to require the Borrower to pay, or be charged, interest at a greater rate
than the maximum allowed by the applicable law relating to this Note. Should any
interest, or other charges, charged, paid or payable by the Borrower in
connection with this Note, or any other document delivered in connection
herewith, result in the charging, compensation, payment or earning of interest
in excess of the maximum allowed by applicable law, then any and all such excess
shall be and the same is hereby waived by the holder, and


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any and all such excess paid shall be automatically credited against and in
reduction of the principal due under this Note. If the Bank shall reasonably
determine that the interest rate (together with all other charges or payments
related hereto that may be deemed interest) stipulated under this Note is, or
may be, usurious or otherwise limited by law, the unpaid balance of this Note,
with accrued interest at the highest rate permitted to be charged by stipulation
in writing between the Bank and Borrower, at the option of the Bank, shall
immediately become due and payable.

        EVENTS OF DEFAULT. The Borrower, without notice or demand of any kind,
shall be in default under this Note upon the occurrence of any of the following
Events of Default: (a) if any amount due and owing on this Note or any fees due
the Bank, any expenses incurred by the Bank hereunder or any and all other
liabilities and obligations of the Borrower to the Bank, is not paid when due,
or (b) if any other Event of Default, as defined in the Business Loan Agreement
hereinafter referenced, as the same may be amended from time to time, shall
occur.

        REMEDIES. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, the Bank may,
without notice, declare the entire unpaid and outstanding principal balance
hereunder and all accrued interest, together with all other indebtedness of
Borrower to the Bank, to be due and payable in full forthwith, without
presentment, demand or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly
waived by Borrower, and thereupon the Bank shall have and may exercise any one
or more of the rights and remedies provided herein or in any loan agreement,
mortgage, guaranty, security agreement, assignment or other document relating
hereto. The remedies provided for hereunder are cumulative to the remedies for
collection of the amounts owing hereunder as provided by law or by any loan
agreement, mortgage, guaranty, security agreement or other document relating
hereto. Nothing herein is intended, nor should it be construed, to preclude the
Bank from pursuing any other remedy for the recovery of any other sum to which
the Bank may be or become entitled for breach of the terms of this Note or any
loan agreement, mortgage, guaranty, security agreement or other instrument
relating hereto.

        COSTS OF COLLECTION. Borrower agrees, in case of an Event of Default
under the terms of this Note or under any loan agreement, security or other
agreement executed in connection herewith, to pay all costs of the Bank for
collection of this Note and all other liabilities of Borrower to the Bank and
enforcement of its rights hereunder, including reasonable attorney fees and
legal expenses including participation in Bankruptcy proceedings.

        DEFAULT RATE OF INTEREST. During any period(s) an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, or after the Due Date, or after acceleration of
maturity, the outstanding principal amount hereof shall bear interest at a rate
equal to two percent (2.0%) per annum greater than the interest rate otherwise
charged hereunder.

        LATE CHARGES. If any required payment is not made within ten (10) days
after the date it is due (other than any balloon payment of principal due on the
Due Date), then, at the option of the Bank, a late charge in the amount of five
percent (5.0%) of the payment so overdue may be charged.

        NO WAIVER OF DEFAULT. Acceptance by the Bank of any payment in an amount
less than the amount then due shall be deemed an acceptance on account only, and
the failure to pay the entire amount then due shall be and continue to be an
Event of Default. Upon any Event of Default, neither the failure of the Bank
promptly to exercise its right to declare the outstanding principal and accrued
unpaid interest hereunder to be immediately due and payable, nor the failure of
the Bank to demand strict performance of any other obligation of the Borrower or
any other person who may be liable hereunder shall constitute a waiver of any
such rights, nor a waiver of such rights in connection with any future default
on the part of the Borrower or any other person who may be liable hereunder.

        GENERAL. Borrower and all endorsers and guarantors hereof, if any,
hereby jointly and severally waive presentment for payment, demand, notice of
non-payment, notice of protest or protest of this Note, diligence in collection
or bringing suit, and hereby consent to any and all extensions of time,
renewals, waivers, or modifications that may be granted by the Bank with respect
to payment or any other provisions of this Note, and to the release of any
collateral or any part thereof, with or without substitution. The liability of
the Borrower shall be absolute and

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unconditional, without regard to the liability of any other party hereto. This
Note shall be deemed to have been executed in, and all rights and obligations
hereunder shall be governed by, the laws of the State of Michigan.

        OTHER DOCUMENTS. This Note has been executed pursuant to, or is secured
or supported by, the following documents:

        -   Business Loan Agreement, dated December 18, 2003.

        -   Security Agreement, dated December 18, 2003.

        -   Guaranty signed by WM LIMITED PARTNERSHIP - 1998, dated December 18,
            2003, secured by a Security Agreement, dated December 18, 2003.

        -   Guaranty signed by OCM FOOD SERVICE, LLC, dated December 18, 2003.

        -   Guaranty signed by OCM DEVELOPMENT, LLC, dated December 18, 2003.

        The Borrower and the Bank may also have signed other documents in
conjunction herewith providing for security for this Note or other matters.
Reference is hereby made to the foregoing documents for additional terms
relating to the transaction giving rise to this Note, the security or support
given for this Note and additional terms and conditions under which this Note
matures, may be accelerated or prepaid.

                                    BORROWER:

                                    MERITAGE HOSPITALITY GROUP INC., a Michigan
                                    corporation


                                    By:
                                        ---------------------------------
                                               James R. Saalfeld

                                    Its:   Vice President


                                    1971 East Beltline Avenue, NE, Suite 200,
                                    -----------------------------------------
                                    Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525
                                    -----------------------------------------
                                    Address




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