Show-Me's getting liquor license from Naperville

Naperville's liquor commission will issue a liquor license to a controversial Show-Me's restaurant scheduled to open in mid-January at 1126 E. Ogden Ave.

The commission's unanimous decision was announced Thursday afternoon following a series of meetings, hearings and occasional protests. Opponents complained the establishment and its scantily clad servers would not be a good fit for their neighborhood or the city.

Mayor George Pradel, who also serves as the liquor commissioner, said his panel weighed the feedback given by 15 residents during a November meeting but found no legal reason to deny the license request.

“The liquor commission met with the owners of Show-Me's in a public forum and conducted an in-depth background check on all of Show-Me's owners and investors,” Pradel said. “Additionally, I personally reached out to all of the mayors of towns where this establishment is located. Our police department made inquiries with all of the police departments in these towns, and we concluded there is no legal basis in which we can refuse to grant Show-Me's a liquor license.”

Show-Me's President Ron Cote said he learned of the decision late Wednesday.

“We're thrilled to be able to open in Naperville and prove that we're capable of being great neighbors and an asset to the community,” Cote said. “I've said before that I've never been investigated this much in my life but the city did what it had to do and we came up clean every time.”

This will be the first Show-Me's in the Chicago area. The chain also has establishments in Springfield, Carbondale and Fairview Heights.

In response to concerns raised by neighbors, several restrictions will be imposed on the liquor license issued to Show-Me's, including a mandatory midnight closing each day and a requirement that servers wear a “full T-shirt and shorts with a cuff.”

The license also prohibits outside amplifiers, seating and other activities such as car washes.

“If it means I can be in Naperville, I can live with all of that,” Cote said.

At least one resident who has spoken out against the establishment doesn't find the news so exciting.

“I didn't think my speaking out was going to change the sex-object mentality of our society, but I felt I needed to draw attention to it when it hits so close to home,” Jeanette Steiner said. “I will never be able find it in me to vote for George Pradel again.”

Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO John Schmitt, however, praised the decision Thursday evening.

“We want to congratulate the mayor and the commission on granting the license because it's the right thing to do,” he said. “We have laws and regulations, but the ownership of Show-Me's have indicated they are anxious to be in Naperville and want to be a good addition to the community.”

Cote said Thursday's decision keeps the restaurant on track to be open in time for the beginning of the NFL Playoffs.