The Village Board approved a Class B beer and Class C wine license for District Pour House, a proposed 3,400‑square‑foot full‑service restaurant and entertainment venue slated for 686 Mike McCarthy Way in the Commonplace development. The board denied the applicant’s request for a Class B combination (full liquor) license and followed the Public Works and Protection Committee recommendation limiting the approval to beer and wine.

Owner April Smith told the board the restriction “does negatively impact” her financial projections and said liquor sales — particularly batch cocktails in the venue’s self‑pour model — are integral to the business plan. In the council chambers Smith described the venue as having “over 3,400 square feet of indoor space, 600 square feet for our full kitchen, [and] 1,000 square foot of outdoor patio space,” including a 14‑by‑14 stage and a 40‑tap self‑pour system with room to expand.

Smith presented conservative, consultant‑vetted revenue projections that estimate weekday customer counts of about 240, weekend counts above 300 and event‑day capacity between 500 and 600. She said comparable self‑pour venues report liquor or mixed‑drink sales at roughly 20–24% of total revenue and warned that removing liquor from the product mix from day one would “greatly” affect the business’s chance of success.

Board members questioned the assumptions in the financial model and whether daily averages — for example, 20 customers per hour on a Monday for 12 hours — were realistic given the area’s current activity. The board discussed license quotas and an earlier reserve/exemption the applicant said she had held for a different site but no longer qualifies for because of seating limits.

After discussion, a trustee moved to grant the beer/wine license recommended by Public Works and Protection; the board adopted the recommendation by voice vote. Staff said the license would be available if the applicant chooses to proceed; the applicant acknowledged the decision reduces projected revenues and said she remained committed to the project despite the limitation.

Outcome: District Pour House received a Class B beer and Class C wine license; the request for a Class B liquor combination license was not granted. The board asked staff to confirm license availability and to proceed with standard licensing steps for the beer/wine authorization.