Council approves transfer of Class B liquor license to Tony’s Bar & Grill despite police-service concerns

The Joliet City Council on April 15 approved the transfer of a Class B liquor license for 926 Gardner Street (Tony’s Bar & Grill) after council members who reviewed the prospective new owner said he operates well-run establishments elsewhere.

Why it matters: Liquor-license transfers can affect neighborhood quality and public-safety workloads; one council member said the location has a history of police calls and opposed the transfer on that basis.

Council review and comments: Councilmembers who met with the prospective owner said he runs well-managed bars in other towns and that they believed he would be a constructive presence in Joliet. Councilman Joe (mover not specified) and Councilwoman Rivera reviewed the application and recommended approval; the council’s discussion noted past attempts to run a successful bar at that location and emphasized the potential for new ownership to stabilize operations.

Opposition: One council member said the police department had recorded 22 calls for service to the site under prior ownership and announced a no vote on that basis.

Vote and outcome: The council voted to approve the license transfer. Recorded votes on the meeting record included yes votes from Councilman Mudrin, Councilwoman Reardon, Councilman Cardenas, Councilman Clement, Councilman Guerrero, Councilman Hugg, Councilman Navarro and Mayor Terry Darcy; Councilman Quillman voted no. The mayor declared the motion carried.

Clarifying details: Council members said the prospective buyer will own the real estate and operate the business; the city’s standard licensing review and police background checks remain part of the transfer process.

Next steps: The license transfer was approved at the council level; the new owner must complete any remaining local licensing steps and comply with operational and public-safety requirements.