Arlington Heights creates coffee shop liquor license, considers other changes

Arlington Heights officials are considering loosening the rules when it comes to what kinds of establishments can have a liquor license in town, but said they still want to make sure the village does not become a place for bars and taverns.

The first step on Monday included the village board's committee of the whole approving a new category of liquor licenses that would apply to coffee shops, a change that came after a request from Starbucks earlier this year to implement its new "Evenings" model at one location - 1802 N. Arlington Heights Road.

Since that request, village staff did a survey of 13 other communities - Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elgin, Elk Grove, Evanston, Hoffman Estates, Mount Prospect, Naperville, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, Skokie, and Wheeling - to examine their liquor codes.

Assistant Village Manager Diana Mikula said that from the survey it seems that the village is among the most restrictive in the area, since only three other towns require a full menu of food to be served along with alcohol, like in Arlington Heights.

"Due to the restrictive nature we have not been able to accommodate a few new business requests," Mikula said. Aside from the Starbucks - which will now be able to apply for a liquor license under the coffee shop category, Mikula said the village has also had to turn down requests for a wine cafe, a craft beer establishment, a cocktail bar and brewery with a tap room, but no food.

"I can appreciate that there is a trend going on and I don't want to put our businesses at a disadvantage," Trustee John Scaletta said.

Beyond the coffee shop license, the board expressed interest, but caution at changing the liquor code further. Staff will do more research about how other municipalities have allowed new establishments such as microbreweries or craft distilleries, how much liquor or beer they are allowed to serve and what hours they can be open, before coming back with recommendations.

"I'd be happy to take a look at it, but there has to be an element of food available," Scaletta said.

Trustees Robin LaBedz and Jim Tinaglia remembered the 1970s when most of the downtown Arlington Heights establishments were bars and not as family friendly as the town is today.

"I do not want to see bars ever again in this town like that," Tinaglia said.