Local Liquor Commission

January 9, 2020 I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL VOTE Chair Taylor called the January 9, 2020 meeting of the Local Liquor Control Commission to order at 7:00 P.M. in the City Council Chambers of the Wheaton City Hall, 303 West Wesley Street. Upon roll call, the following were present: Commissioner Brown, Commissioner Pearse, Commissioner Sender, Chair Taylor, Commissioner Wolgemuth. Absent: None. City Staff Present: James P. Kozik, Director of Planning and Economic Development. II. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – December 12, 2019 Commissioner Pearse moved and Commissioner Brown seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the December 12, 2019 Local Liquor Control Commission meeting as submitted. On a voice vote, all voted aye. IV. NEW BUSINESS APPLICATION FOR A CLASS A LIQUOR LICENSE AND AMENDMENTS TO THE CLASS A LIQUOR LICENSE CLASSIFICATION - HALE STREET CANTINA - 109 N. HALE STREET Mr. Kozik stated that HFO Entertainment LLC has submitted an application for a Class A Liquor License for their proposed restaurant, Hale Street Cantina, a 65 seat Mexican-American restaurant to be located at 109 N. Hale Street. The operator currently has three other existing restaurants located in Downtown Glen Ellyn, Naperville and St. Charles. Mr. Kozik stated that the operators experience in other suburban downtowns is also causing him to seek an amendment to the hours of operation for Class A Licensees (minimum 25 seats), currently Monday – Sunday, 7am to 11pm so they will match the hours of operation for Class I Licensees (minimum 125 seats), currently Monday – Saturday, 7am to 1am and Sunday, 7am to 12 midnight. In addition, Mr. Kozik stated that if the change in hours of operation for Class A Licensees were to be approved, the operator is seeking an amendment to the Class A License Classification to allow for approval of a limited menu after 11pm; similar to what is afforded to Class I Licensees. WHEATON LIQUOR CONTROL COMMISSION MEETING January 9, 2020 Mr. Brian Hahn, partner at HFO Entertainment LLC, stated that after normal dinner hours their food sales drop drastically. Having a smaller menu will allow them to cut down on labor costs since they will not need to staff a full kitchen. Commissioner Wolgemuth asked Mr. Hahn whether their other restaurants received a liquor violation. Mr. Hahn stated that they have not. Commissioner Pearse asked who the manager of this restaurant would be. Mr. Hahn stated that his brother, another partner at HFO Entertainment LLC, and the current manager of their restaurant in Glen Ellyn would manage this restaurant. Commissioner Sender asked about the number of employees. Mr. Hahn stated the restaurant will have approximately 15 employees. The Commission then had a general discussion about the proposed amendment to the hours of operation. The Commission asked Mr. Kozik to provide the Commission additional information about existing Class A, B and I Licensees at their next meeting. Hearing no further questions or comments, Commissioner Wolgemuth moved and Commissioner Sender seconded a motion to table discussion of the proposed amendment to their February meeting. On a roll call vote, all voted aye. Commissioner Brown then moved and Commissioner Wolgemuth seconded a motion to recommend that a Class A Liquor License be issued to HFO entertainment LLC d/b/a Hale Street Cantina. On a roll call vote, all vote aye. V. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS There was no miscellaneous business. VI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, James P. Kozik, AICP Director of Planning and Economic Development