Long Grove Sunset Foods to sell wine, beer from bar in store

Sunset Foods in Long Grove has gained permission to serve beer and wine from a bar planned in a section of the store.

To accommodate Sunset's proposal, the Long Grove village board this week agreed to amend the store's liquor license to allow individual servings of wine and beer. Wine and beer by the glass will be permitted from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

"During the day, that (dining room) upstairs is full, full of people either playing bridge or mahjong or eating," Trustee Bobbie O'Reilly said. "And so this is kind of an enhancement."

Sunset Vice President of Marketing Thaddeus "T.J." Tazioli said a counter near the liquor and floral departments used for gift basket sales and other purposes will be converted into a bar for the wine and beer offerings. He said customers will be able to enjoy the beverages with restaurant-style meals sold in the store.

Sunset already sells beer and wine by the glass from bars at its Libertyville and Northbrook and locations. Tazioli said it's part of Sunset's continuing effort to be a "groceraunt" ­­- a restaurant inside a grocery store.

"It's just been sort of a natural progression toward creating a menu that appeals to consumers," Tazioli said. "To be able to order a prepared-to-order meal at the grill - you have a variety of options there - and pair it with a glass of wine or a beer. In our Libertyville location, we've got big flat-screen TVs, we've got sports programming that we have on."

Tazioli said refrigeration, beer taps and other equipment will be installed to convert the existing counter into bar space, with completion expected within two months. There already is seating along a window near the planned bar, along with the upstairs dining space.

Sunset Foods anchors a namesake retail plaza developed seven years ago by Vernon Hills-based Pinnacle Capital Group. Other tenants in Sunset Grove include Starbucks, Zengeler Cleaners, SportClips and Burn Boot Camp.

In supporting the beer and wine service, Long Grove Trustee Anne Kritzmire said Sunset has been "a great partner" for the village.