Lake Zurich distillery wants entertainment to continue
Lake Zurich's Copper Fiddle Distillery is seeking village permission to continue offering live entertainment in what the owners say is a move to enhance the business' retail side.
Co-owners Jose Hernandez and Fred Robinson appeared before the village board Monday night for an informal review of their request for an amended special-use permit so it's clear that what usually are acoustic guitar performances Friday and Saturday nights are allowed in the Route 22 craft distillery.
Trustees agreed to grant a temporary permit to Copper Fiddle to allow the music to continue. The trustees also recommended Copper Fiddle be allowed to enter the formal approval process for the permanent, tweaked special-use permit, that will begin with the advisory planning and zoning commission before returning to the village board for a final vote.
Village Trustee Jonathan Sprawka expressed support for Copper Fiddle, saying he's been there and that it isn't packed with patrons wanting to hear live music similar to a nightclub setting.
"We go there with other friends, they get the kids a baby sitter, and it's a few couples," Sprawka said. "We stayed at the Copper Fiddle a couple hours. We want to sit down somewhere. We're not looking to stand up for a couple hours."
Hernandez said the entertainment started in 2015 under what seemed to be an allowed use in the distillery's permit to operate in Lake Zurich. However, he said, Lake Zurich zoning inspector Mary Meyer recommended the business seek the amended permit to add clarity on the distillery being allowed to host the performances.
Copper Fiddle wants to enhance existing business with the weekend acoustic shows and attract new patrons from across the suburbs, according to the owners. They also said the entertainment is good for Lake Zurich because customers sometimes begin their evenings at a village restaurant before heading to Copper Fiddle.
Hernandez said the indoor entertainment, which typically has one to three musicians, has gone well so far.
"We have not had any complaints from any of our business neighbors or any of the adjacent residential neighbors," he told the village board.
Hernandez and Robinson, both Hawthorn Woods residents, opened Copper Fiddle in March 2014 and produce handcrafted gin and bourbon. Copper Fiddle's spirits not only are served at the distillery, but also are distributed to local bars and restaurants.