Committee recommends special use and extra Class B liquor license for Millennium Cigar and Liquor at 235 W. Northwest Highway

The Police Policy and Code Services Committee reviewed a petition to permit Millennium Cigar and Liquor in a vacant tenant space at 235 West Northwest Highway and recommended approval of both a special-use permit for a package liquor and tobacco store and an increase of one Class B package liquor license.

A village staff member identified the tenant space as about 3,100 square feet and summarized the business plan, saying the store would sell liquor, tobacco products (including cigars and e-cigarettes), nonalcoholic drinks and operate within the village’s liquor-code hours. The staff member recited the applicant’s intended hours: Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to midnight.

The staff member told the committee the petitioner committed to place deliveries at the rear of the property, to comply with signage requirements and to coordinate interior security measures with the Palatine Police Department. The staff member also said the petitioner had been informed that “CBD hemp THC products are not included and therefore prohibited from being sold…if they get approval and they were to choose, in some way to wanna sell those items, they'd have to come back through with their special use amendment and be back before, ultimately, the the village council.”

Abbas Weiss, who said he owns George’s Wine and Spirits across the street and lives in Palatine, read a letter that was included in the meeting packet objecting to the new store. The staff member noted two emails of objection were included in the packet, one from an existing liquor store within about three-quarters of a mile and one from another individual objecting to an additional liquor store.

Councilman Helms asked to confirm the age requirement for purchases; staff replied that the age requirement is 21 for cigarettes, tobacco and liquor.

The staff member said the Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the application and unanimously recommended approval. The committee moved, seconded and conducted a roll-call vote; the transcript records affirmative votes from Councilman Lamoran, Councilman Falkenberg, Huntsman Millar, Huntsman Madzinski, Councilman Kozlowski, Councilman Helms and Mayor Schwantz.

The committee’s recommendation advances the special-use petition and license increase to the council and Liquor Commission as required; staff emphasized that final building-permit, security and signage compliance will occur through separate permit reviews.

The committee record shows objections from at least one nearby business and a resident email; staff noted the petitioner agreed to restrictions on specific hemp/THC products and described delivery, signage and security commitments.