Lake Zurich chooses local bar owner to operate Sunset Pavilion
Sunset Pavilion at Breezewald Park, the village-built beer garden opening this summer, will be operated by the owners of the restaurant across the street.
The Lake Zurich board has unanimously approved a two-year lease agreement with PB & S Investments LLC, the company that owns Scoreboard Bar and Grill.
Under the agreement, the company will offer patrons a selection of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, as well as light food options.
For Stefani Jerard of PB & S Investments, operating Sunset Pavilion will be a familiar experience. Jerard said Monday that when she was younger she helped run a concession stand in Breezewald Park.
"Every summer I'd be down at the concession stand serving ice cream and soda and burgers and everything else to the public who came to enjoy the beach," Jerard said. "So here we are full circle."
Trustee Jim Beaudoin said he is comfortable having Jerard and her family run Sunset Pavilion.
"The are obviously used to operating an establishment that close to the lake in a family-friendly environment," said Beaudoin, adding that he has heard positive feedback about the beer garden from residents.
The village hopes the $157,000 facility, funded by the developer of the nearby Somerset By The Lake luxury rental community, will attract people to the lake and downtown.
Under the terms of the lease, the beer garden will be open from May through October. This year, because the structure is still under construction, the goal is to open in time for the Fourth of July.
The beer garden will be allowed to operate from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Jerard said she plans to regularly open at 11 a.m. but wanted the flexibility to open earlier if there were a special event at Breezewald Park.
PB & S will pay the village a monthly rent of $500 or 20 percent of gross alcohol sales plus 12 percent of gross sales of other items, whichever is greater.
Jerard said she is excited to get started and hopes people will be able to join them for the Fourth of July celebration.
"It's in the best place on the lake to see the sunset," Jerard said.