Mount Prospect gives Moretti's the go-ahead for wine club

Mount Prospect, which does not allow restaurants to sell package liquor for off-premises consumption, has laid the groundwork for Moretti's to apply for a new license so that customers can buy and take home wine as part of a wine club.

On Tuesday, village board members voted to amend the village code so that holders of a Class F-3 or F-3-V liquor license, which applies to restaurants, can operate a wine club where members can buy up to two 750-milliliter bottles of wine per month for consumption on or off the premises.

Restaurants seeking permission to run a wine club can apply for an endorsement from the village.

Moretti's, which is the first restaurant to approach the village, now has the go-ahead to apply for an endorsement.

Wine club members must be at least 21, while members drinking at the restaurant must drink with a meal.

In a letter to trustees - Jim Earley, corporate manager of Ala Carte Entertainment, the firm that owns Moretti's, which has been in the village for 40 years - said the concept would be similar to the wine club at Cooper's Hawk restaurants.

Mayor Arlene Juracek, also liquor commissioner, said, "We are actually kind of the last to get on board" with the wine club concept.

Trustee Richard Rogers said Moretti's is expanding not only its business but also participation in the community with the wine club.

"I think it's a great concept," Trustee Michael Zadel said. "It's a wonderful idea. It helps to involve more people in the community."

Bartlett, Fox Lake, Hoffman Estates, Lake in the Hills, Rosemont and Schaumburg have all passed similar ordinances.

In Mount Prospect, there is an annual endorsement fee of $250 for the privilege.