Politics & Government

Downtown Restaurant and Bar Gets a Thumbs Down

Parking issues, smoking area, menu offerings and ability to meet liquor license requirements cited as reasons for negative recommendation.

By a vote of five to two, the Zoning Board of Appeals Tuesday night gave a thumbs down to Mac’s on Slade, a proposed restaurant and bar to open its doors at 117 W. Slade St. 

The location was previously occupied by Mint Julep Room, which closed several months ago. The Zoning Board of Appeals vote is only a recommendation. The matter will be heard by the liquor commission and then the village council will have the final say on whether the business is approved.

A number of concerns about the business, which also plans to have live entertainment on weekends, were voiced by Zoning Board of Appeals members as well as village staff.

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The central question lingered around whether the business would be able to conform to the requirements of a Class “D” liquor license, which has been applied for by business owners Mike Barra and Mac Reitz.

“The language in the code states a restaurant [that offers a full bar] must have a full menu; we have a concern that they will not be able to produce the food they indicate based on the size of the kitchen area,” said Ben Vyverberg, director of planning and zoning.

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The location lacks a full size kitchen with preparation areas, ample space for equipment and dishwashing facilities required by the department of health, according to Vyverberg.

When the space was occupied by Mint Julep Room, its owner was not subject to the same stipulations because the business had access to the full kitchen at Mint Julep Bistro, its ‘sister’ business located a block away. That business also closed its doors last year.

“We plan to add a convection oven and a pizza oven, and have revised the kitchen plan and menu; everything is modular these days so we can do a lot more with the space we have,” Barra said.

Barra added that they have increased the number of hot meals on the menu, including rotisserie chicken, turkey pot pies, pulled pork, pizza and hot German potato salad.

“We are trying to level out to [have] more full meals to meet village requirements,” said Barra.

“I think due to the small size of the location, an alternate location with more space would be better,” said Bill Robertson, Zoning Board of Appeals member.

Mac’s on Slade would have a capacity for 58 patrons, and the question of whether there would be ample parking in the downtown area also was brought up.  

There are currently 92 spaces at the Smith and Slade parking lot after 5 p.m. and on weekends and 32 spaces near the firefighter’s memorial. 

An additional 96 parking spots are located at the corner of Palatine and Brockway after 5 p.m. and on weekends. Vyverberg said 35 of those soon will be eliminated when landscaped islands are added to the parking lot.

The business previously went before the Zoning Board of Appeals at the April 12 meeting, and the owners were advised to provide signage directing customers to use on-street parking around the Town Square and the public parking lots on Slade and Smith Streets.

Reitz said he and Barra were both agreeable to taking that step.

Proposed hours of operation for Mac’s on Slade would be from 10 a.m. until midnight Sundays through Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Live entertainment consisting of three to five member bands would begin at 8 p.m and end at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Correction: This story originally stated that there were 61 parking spaces at Brockway and Palatine Road and that these would be reduced by half. There are 96 spaces and 35 spaces will be eliminated leaving 61 spaces. Palatine Patch regrets the error.


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