Council approves Buddy’s Pizza class A liquor license and video gaming permit, subject to requirements

The McHenry City Council voted to approve a class A liquor license and a video gaming license for Wade’s Wave Inc., doing business as Buddy’s Pizza, at 1138 North Green Street, with conditions. The liquor license approval was contingent on the successful completion of a background check; the video gaming approval was conditioned on issuance of the liquor license and completion of a video gaming development agreement.

Applicant Ishmael Gaziani said the new owners will retain current staff and promote an existing staff member to serve as the licensed manager, who will live within the 10-mile residency requirement. “We will have a manager that lives within the 10 miles to be in compliance,” Gaziani said. He also told the council the previous owner had purchased the business only three to four months earlier and was selling because a family member was ill.

Council members asked how many video gaming machines would be installed; staff and the applicant said six devices would be permitted under the application. The council approved the liquor-license motion on a roll call and later approved the related video gaming license with the same condition that the liquor license be issued first and that a gaming development agreement be completed.

The video gaming motion specified that approval is pending issuance of the class A liquor license. The council’s roll calls for both motions registered unanimous assent among members present.

No amendments to the applications were proposed at the meeting. Staff confirmed the background-check process was underway; the council’s approvals make issuance conditional on the final background-check results and the filing of the licensed manager name and the video gaming development agreement.