Politics & Government

Ordinance Change Aimed at Attracting Businesses

Mayor: New liquor license classifications mean the village is ready to welcome new merchants when economy improves.

Village attorney Rich Vogel on Wednesday outlined new liquor license classifications that could potentially entice new types of businesses to come to Romeoville.

Mayor John Noak said the new categories will make it easier for upscale businesses, like wine bars, microbreweries, full-service hotels and theaters that sell food and drink, to move into the village.

“We’re trying to be proactive,” he said. “We’re trying to be more welcoming and say, ‘We’ve got a class for you [already]. We’d rather be prepared than not.”

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The ordinance change will also allow established nonprofits to host events where liquor is sold without continually having to reapply for a license, making it easier for charities to host special events.

The following new license classifications were created:

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  • Class G – Allows for liquor to be sold for consumption in full-service hotels with no fewer than 25 rooms. Licensees must also operate a full-service restaurant and may not sell beverages to individual rooms. The annual fee is $1,200.
  • Class H – Allows established (five years or more) nonprofits to sell beer, wine and prepackaged cocktails at charitable events including picnics, rallies, fests, dances, fairs and banquets. The village may issue no more than 12 Class H licenses per calendar year. The fee is $120 per day for each day of the event.
  • Class J – Authorizes the sale of alcohol at cinema or theater venues in conjunction with food. Alcohol may be sold from noon to midnight, beginning not more than 15 minutes before the first regularly scheduled showtime and ending with the last scheduled film. The annual fee is $1,800.
  • Class M – Permits the on-site brewing of beer and the retail sale of alcohol, along with sales to wholesalers. The annual fee is $1,800.
  • Class N – Permits the sale of liquor in its original packaging in connection with the operation of a catering business. The annual fee is $1,200.
  • Class O – Permits the sale bottled wines and premium beer sales; beverages may be sold in their original packages only when they are not to be consumed on the premises. Beer and wine may be sold by the glass for consumption on the premises. The classification allows for tastings of up to five sample servings (1 ounce for wine, 2 ounces for premium beer). The annual fee is $1,200.
  • Class P – Authorizes the sale of liquor on premises owned by charitable, religious, fraternal, civic, patriotic or social organizations not on an ongoing basis but for events including banquets, fundraisers, dances and festivals. Written notice of such an event must be provided to the liquor control commissioner 15 days in advance of the event. Such premises must include a full-service kitchen. The annual fee is $250.

 

Noak said the ordinance amendment means the village is ready for commercial growth, should the economy begin to improve.

“A lot of these things we weren’t anticipating under the existing ordinance,” he said, acknowledging that the village looked to other municipalities for guidance when it came to making some of the changes.

“I will admit we borrowed liberally and created new [classifications],” he said.


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