Palatine awards liquor license to Mother Cluckers
Mother Cluckers Kitchen has received approval for a liquor license as its owners prepare to open their first suburban location in Palatine.
Palatine village council members Monday evening agreed to increase by one the number of licenses restricted to the sale of beer and wine in a restaurant. Mother Cluckers plans to be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, within the Palatine license's guidelines.
Outside the village council chambers, co-owner Richard Schweigel said he hopes to open the Palatine eatery in early February, provided the building passes all final village inspections.
Mother Cluckers will operate in a building formerly occupied by the beloved Hot Dog Richie's on Northwest Highway at Colfax Street. Richard Schweigel and his wife, Penny, have gained a strong following at the first Mother Cluckers they launched at 5200 N. Elston Ave. in Chicago.
Using family recipes and no frozen products, the restaurant offers fried, smothered and broasted chicken, catfish, pulled pork and a shrimp po' boy sandwich, among other items.
Richard Schweigel said the interest level about Mother Cluckers' planned opening in Palatine has been high. Some potential customers have visited while interior work is occurring.
"We get 50 calls a day, 20 emails a day, 'When are you opening?'" Schweigel said. "Since we (recently) got our building permit, I get an average between 20 and 30 people walking in thinking they're going to eat. And I keep telling them, 'You're three weeks early. You're three weeks early.' I look forward to a big turnout when we open up."
Village council members granted final approval for the Mother Cluckers plan in August. Hot Dog Richie's operated for about 40 years before suddenly closing amid foreclosure proceedings in late 2015.
Village Manager Reid Ottesen said after Monday's meeting that Palatine officials also have received inquiries about Mother Cluckers.
"It's a prominent location," Ottesen said. "I think a lot of people were taken by surprise when Hot Dog Richie's closed, so we're really looking forward to them being open and operating. We get calls on a regular basis, 'Hey, when are they going to be open?' So, we're looking forward to it and having them be a long-standing part of the community."
Mother Cluckers in Chicago has a license allowing patrons to bring their own alcohol to have to with a meal. The owners cited the unavailability of a BYOB license in Palatine in seeking permission to sell beer and wine.