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Niles mayor opening video gambling cafe in Wheeling

Niles Mayor Andrew Przybylo and his wife will be opening a video gambling cafe in Wheeling, the second approved since officials lifted a cap on the establishments in April.

Initially, the Przybylos were approved to open Eagle Gourmet Cafe in a shopping center at 1201 W. Dundee Road, with a liquor license allowing a restaurant with video gambling machines. But when the village lifted the moratorium on video gambling cafes a month later, the owners changed plans.

Village trustees approved changing the license in a 5-2 vote Monday.

There are a few differences in the operations of a video gambling cafe and restaurant with video gambling.

A video gambling cafe can have a maximum of 30 seats and at least half its gross revenue must be from food and beverages. The primary business is video gambling. Restaurants with video gambling must have a minimum of 30 seats and serve lunch or dinner at least five days a week.

Przybylo told village he switched license requests because he needs more space for storage to comply with the village health code, preventing him from including enough seating to be classified as a restaurant. He said the previous floor plans with more seating would be inefficient.

The cafe will serve Eastern European foods, including soups, sandwiches, pierogies and paczki. It will have seating for about 16 customers and five video gambling machines.

The Przybylos owned the White Eagle Restaurant and banquet hall in Niles for more than four decades before selling it three years ago.

Two weeks ago, village trustees approved May's Lounge at 280 E. Dundee Road as the first video gambling cafe to open since the cap was removed. Three locations of Stella's Place previously held the only available licenses.

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