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Planned Long Grove pub will offer video gambling

Long Grove trustees narrowly approved a measure that will allow for the village's fifth video gambling establishment, and the first outside of the downtown area.

Pub 83 is expected to open in the coming months in the old Gridley's Bar and Grille, 4868 Rt. 83, which has been closed for several years. George Callas, who ran Gridley's, is also behind Pub 83.

Trustees last week approved the liquor license that also allows for video gambling in a 4-3 vote.

Long Grove trustees have been divided on the issue of video gambling since another 4-3 vote last year allowed video gambling in the village permanently.

Village President Angie Underwood cast the deciding "yes" vote last year, and again for Pub 83's approval.

Underwood said there was some discussion among board members regarding whether Callas should be granted a video gambling license for an establishment that isn't located in the downtown area.

Long Grove Trustee Michael Sarlitto said his most recent vote against another video gambling establishment came as a result of a residents survey that showed a majority of respondents did not favor gambling as a way to bring in revenue.

"I'm not for or against gambling," Sarlitto said. "I'm basing my decision on what people hired me to do, which is to represent them."

When the board approved video gambling in the village last year, Underwood said, one village trustee specifically asked if the restaurant now reopening as Pub 83, could potentially have video gambling.

"It stated clearly that a video gaming establishment could be located anywhere in Long Grove," Underwood said.

Since Gridley's closed, Callas has worked to make it easier for northbound drivers on Route 83 to make a left-hand turn onto his lot, Underwood said. And once he realized he could potentially bring video gambling to his restaurant, he decided that, plus the improved access point would make the project feasible, Underwood said.

Sarlitto said he would have been for slowly phasing video gambling out after the village's initial trial run.

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