Gia Mia in Geneva plans to add patio seating
A new restaurant in Geneva hopes to become even more popular by adding a 32-seat patio for outdoor dining.
Gia Mia first needs to get permission from the city, however, to build the patio where three private parking spaces are now.
Aldermen Monday gave a preliminary approval to a deal where Gia Mia would pay the city $30,000 for approval to do so.
The three spaces are on the north side of the building at 18 N. Third St., just off an alley.
Normally, city law would require the restaurant to replace those three spaces with others, within 350 feet of the restaurant. That's not physically possible, according to David DeGroot, the city's community development director.
So instead, the restaurant will pay a fee, which will be put in a city fund devoted to adding public parking downtown.
Only Alderman Tom Simonian voted against it, because he said he worries about what would happen if the restaurant went out of business before it finished paying the fee. The restaurant will pay the fee over three years.
Gia Mia opened in March. It specializes in pizza and pasta dishes. It is a sister restaurant to Gia Mia in Wheaton.
If the city council formally approves, the restaurant still has to get a building permit. The owner said it could open within 30 days after that.
"In the unlikely case if Gia Mia were to go out of business, the value in that property is going to be in a restaurant with an outdoor seating area," Alderman Tara Burghart said.
Other spots
Aldermen also gave preliminary approval to grant a liquor license to a new bar, and to the new owner of an established bar.
Grandstanders will open where Matsuri Japanese restaurant used to be, at 507 S. Third St. It will be owned by the people behind The Finery and Blacksmith Bar in St. Charles. "The Grandstander is going to be an upscale sports bar," owner and chef David Reyes said. "Our take on dining at The Finery (is) a little more detail oriented than most. We strive to provide our audience with as sustainable a product as possible."
He said he initially wanted to open The Finery in Geneva, but a space fell through, and that when the Matsuri space became available, he "jumped on it."
Jeremy and Nicholas Casiello, owners of the Dam Bar and Grill on River Lane, have bought the Cabooses bar at the train station. It will be called Caboose 64. Jeremy Casiello said they plan to expand the pub's menu.