Bartlett village board to hear revised plans for gambling bistro

The Bartlett village board Tuesday will consider revised plans for a video gambling bistro that's previously faced scrutiny from residents and town leaders.

Daniela's Bistro, according to the new plans from PDS Enterprises Bartlett, would house four video gambling terminals and serve food and alcoholic drinks to patrons in the Cartland Building, near the intersection of Bartlett and Hickory avenues.

That's one less gambling terminal than originally proposed. The new plan also calls for increasing the number of seats from nine to 28 and adds a second bathroom.

Petitioner Peter Zaikowski said he plans to lease the former Station Cleaners space from the building's owner. He eventually hopes to buy the entire building, which is up for sale.

The proposal drew objections from residents to the north of the Cartland Building, who fear the gambling bistro would draw a disruptive crowd to their neighborhood. And after first seeing the plan Aug. 18, village trustees told Zaikowski he should focus more on the restaurant aspect of the plan if he wanted to move forward.

Bartlett Community Development Director Jim Plonczynski said it appears Zaikowski has worked with the village's suggestions in making Daniela's more of a bistro than a gambling cafe.

The plan hasn't yet received a positive recommendation from the village's plan commission.

“Residents in the north end of Hickory (Avenue) came out, many of them spoke against the petition, and as a result when the plan commission voted, they failed to approve a positive recommendation,” Plonczynski said.

Plonczynski says Daniela's could bring new life to Bartlett's downtown.

“And it is a business taking up a vacant storefront in our struggling downtown area,” Plonczynski said.

After the board hears the revised plans Tuesday, they're likely to send the proposal back to the plan commission, where it would face another public hearing, Plonczynski said.