Tinley Park trustees discussed, but did not approve, a liquor license request for the business at 6657 South Street during the Committee of the Whole meeting. The board asked staff and the applicant to work with the village attorney to produce clearer, enforceable terms and return to the board for a vote on or before May 6.

The petitioner, identifying himself as Danny Pappas, said he and his partners are pursuing purchase of the existing operating business (identified in the packet as Looby Brothers/the Station) and want to keep downtown activity while eventually converting the site to their White Sheep concept. "Hello everyone. Just for correction, my name is Danny Pappas," he told the board, and later said the applicants want "nothing more than a White Sheep at the location." Pappas described two paths: operate portions of the business now (including keeping the existing dining and bar areas) and use an unused portion as a prep/catering kitchen short term, or invest to convert the site fully to the White Sheep concept at a later date.

Trustees repeatedly told the applicant they were open to a redevelopment that improved the downtown but were not comfortable approving a liquor license while many details remained uncertain. Several trustees said they preferred written, enforceable timelines or conditions rather than verbal assurances. Staff explained the difference between granting a liquor license and approving land-use changes: the current request was for a liquor license only; there is no special-use ordinance or redevelopment agreement before the board at this time.

Board and staff discussion noted several specific constraints and clarifications. Staff said there is a 365-day waiting period for new video-gaming machine registrations unless the applicant acquires the existing corporation and requests a waiver; doing so could allow gaming machines to be reactivated faster. The petitioner said conversion to the White Sheep concept would be a substantial investment — "upwards of a million dollars" — and that short-term catering operations were proposed as a way to help finance the purchase and initial repairs. Staff also confirmed a facade-improvement grant program is available and that some building repairs (parking, tuckpointing, mechanicals) will be required by the buyer.

Rather than vote, the board directed staff and the village attorney to work with the petitioner to draft possible written commitments tying improvements and timelines to any future approval. Trustees suggested such commitments might include a target date for conversion or enforceable obligations for exterior repairs; the village attorney and staff cautioned that adding enforceable conditions to a liquor license raises legal and procedural complications and would require careful drafting. The petitioner agreed to work with staff and attorneys and to aim to present a more concrete proposal for the May 6 meeting.

The discussion also covered downtown fit and long-term activation of Harmony Square. Multiple trustees said they did not want to approve a plan that left valuable downtown space only as a prep or storage facility. Several trustees and staff said immediate exterior improvements to the property — parking repairs, cleaning, mechanical fixes and visible facade work — would be meaningful near-term outcomes even if a full White Sheep conversion takes longer.

No formal motion or vote on the liquor license took place during the meeting; the item was continued for further negotiation and a possible return to the board.