Durty Nellie's wants to add banquets

Between the cozy Irish pub feel, rooftop terrace and entertainment venue, Durty Nellie's is one of Palatine's most popular spots.

But owner Mark Dolezal has yet to secure a tenant for the adjacent retail space, which has been vacant since the establishment moved to its Smith Street location in December 2003.

That will change in the upcoming months when Durty Nellie's itself expands into the existing building to operate a banquet facility, a proposal recently approved by the Palatine village council.

"I was trying to get a bakery, sushi, even a kids place, but we never seemed to close the deal," Dolezal said. "After six years, I don't want it to sit totally idle anymore."

The original redevelopment agreement from 2002 called for a bakery.

Palatine will provide some financial help by releasing a $100,000 letter of credit it was holding until the empty part of the existing building was filled. Dolezal has two years to complete the work under the amended agreement.

The council agreed to let go of the security because the restaurant is in the downtown tax increment financing district, where development in the past several years caused an increase in property taxes. The village uses that additional generated revenue as incentive to businesses to reinvest in the area.

"We're receiving more increment with what (Durty Nellie's) has already built today than what was projected even without that tenant space being filled. So we're already dollars ahead," Village Manager Reid Ottesen said. "This will further their efforts to develop the balance of the space."