Restaurant gets OK to serve on Arlington Hts. plaza

Javier's, Sabor Mexicano, will expand its outdoor seating into a new public plaza Arlington Heights officials created by closing a small stretch of Miner Street just north of Northwest Highway and west of Dunton Avenue.

The village board gave preliminary approval for restaurant owner Javier Villarreal to use the plaza for nine tables and 26 seats. Villarreal, whose current outdoor area has 32 seats, hopes to open the additional seating later this summer.

Javier's is the first restaurant to request the right to serve alcohol on public property since the village allowed for that possibility in 2008, said Bill Enright, deputy director of Planning & Community Development.

The plaza was built with TIF funds.