With Dylan's Pub closing, West Dundee sees chance to redevelop

With the recent closure of a West Dundee business, Village President Chris Nelson sees an opportunity to improve a visually prominent downtown property.

Dylan's Pub, at 101 W. Main St., ceased operations over the weekend after the owner did not renew a liquor license for the establishment, Nelson said.

Now, the newly vacant property is in for a facelift, he said, and the village has already been in contact with a prospective business operator interested in leasing the space, which is owned by Otto Engineering President Tom Roeser.

"This presents us with the opportunity to renovate the interior and exterior," Nelson said. "I think what the (potential) new operators would like to do is shift the focus away from the bar setting to more of a restaurant setting."

Nelson said the operators intend to create a family-friendly establishment with a liquor license and possible outdoor dining along the sidewalk. Additional details were not yet available, he said, as plans for the new restaurant will likely be finalized within the next two months.

The building's exterior - particularly the roof - is also expected to be updated "fairly quickly," Nelson said, noting its 1970s-era vibe does not fit with the architecture of the downtown.

"We're really looking to fix that corner," he said. "It'd be nice to liven it up a bit."

West Dundee officials have been discussing plans to demolish the former Ace Hardware building at 118 S. First St. and create more public parking in its place.

Additionally, the village and Roeser are working to redevelop a cluster of properties on the southeast corner of First and Main streets, directly across First Street from the former Dylan's. The parties involved are finalizing the design and layout of those parcels, Nelson said.

"Given the fact that we're also redeveloping those properties, it's probably an opportune time to fix both corners," he said.