Old Munich Inn in Wheeling to reopen under a new name

Old Munich Inn, the shuttered bar along Milwaukee Avenue in Wheeling, could be making a return as soon as May.

But the standby on the village's "Restaurant Row" will add video gaming and go by a slightly different name this time around. This week the village board approved a liquor license and video gambling for the Old Munich Tavern at 582 N. Milwaukee Ave. New owner Bill Lambardias told trustees that he plans on "putting the staple back on the map." The bar could reopen as soon as May 1, he said.

Lambardias said the operations will mimic the previous business, which closed about a year ago.

"There are a lot of improvements, but the character and operations of Old Munich won't really change, aside from the addition of video gaming, which is a necessary amenity to meet the customers' expectations and a necessary revenue source to ensure the viability of the business," Lambardias said.

Though the bar will have the same layout, the new owners are redoing flooring, refinishing the walls, adding an outside ramp and making the restrooms accessible to people with disabilities. There will also be a new bar and kitchen equipment, Lambardias said.

On the exterior, they plan to repave the parking lot, add new signage and repaint the building.

Typically, restaurants and bars that are closed for more than six months need a new special-use permit to operate. However, because the new owners have been making renovations to the property, they may not need to complete that process, said senior planner Brooke Jones.