Liquor license up in air for Elgin restaurant

JJ’s Fish and Chicken, at 221 National St. in Elgin, may soon be serving beer and wine.

City council members narrowly approved a permit Wednesday to allow the restaurant to apply for a liquor license, and the liquor license was preliminarily approved earlier the same day. But in the 4-3 decision with two votes coming from outgoing council members, there’s one more chance to decide if that should happen.

Councilman John Prigge voiced concerns about the business’ proximity to apartments and a day care center. He said the neighborhood already is struggling and a new liquor license would not help.

“I don’t find it an enhancement to that neighborhood to have a fast food place sell beer and wine,” Prigge said.

Customers purchasing from JJ’s order at the front and seat themselves. Prigge said he would prefer businesses selling beer and wine serve the beverages with a wait staff.

Councilman Richard Dunne joined Prigge and incoming Mayor David Kaptain in voting against the conditional use.

Dunne said selling beer and wine would make JJ’s more of a tavern than a restaurant, as the business already has pool tables and pin ball machines.

“If they’re applying to be a tavern, that’s a different process,” Dunne said, noting he didn’t think the conditional use would have passed through the council in that case.

Incoming council members Tish Powell and Anna Moeller will have a chance to vote on the liquor license itself after being sworn in on April 27. With only Robert Gilliam and John Steffen as council members left in favor, the vote could go either way.