Villa Park trustees delay Mortadelli full-liquor license decision after public debate over gaming and signage

The Village of Villa Park Board of Trustees on Feb. 24 postponed action on an ordinance that would increase by one the number of Class AA (tavern/unlimited) licenses and reduce by one the number of Class AAA (beer-and-wine-only) licenses, a change requested by Mortadelli at 357 South Ardmore.

The item was introduced as an ordinance for first reading; staff recommended approval. During the meeting, Mortadelli owner Mary Ann Delilio told trustees the business has expanded and now operates a bar area and a deli, and she asked for a “full pour” license so servers could offer mixed drinks such as “an old fashioned or a vodka and soda” to customers. “We have a full bar in Mortadelli as well as our deli sandwiches,” Delilio said. “Right now we have a liquor license… but to have an old fashioned or a vodka and soda, we can't serve that right now because we only have beer and wine.”

The board’s public discussion centered on two issues raised repeatedly by trustees and members of the public: whether the license change would open the door to gaming at the Mortadelli location, and the appearance and regulation of signage in downtown Villa Park.

Several trustees said they supported Mortadelli as a local business but wanted time to gather resident feedback and clarify licensing options. Trustee Patrick said the first/second-reading process exists “to give our residents… time to ask questions and look into things,” and requested a delay. Trustee Cozart urged trustees to consider a new “quad” license classification that had been created after Mortadelli first opened and that some trustees described as an alternative allowing full liquor service without gaming.

Director Mark McLaughlin, responding to a trustee question about signs, said zoning limits wall signs facing residential districts and that the Mortadelli property is at a zero lot line; as a result, only window signage was clearly allowable without additional agreements. McLaughlin also said staff had contacted DuPage County about permitted changes to areas adjacent to the Illinois Prairie Path.

Trustees debated whether Mortadelli’s existing license already allows gaming and whether the proposed license change would increase gaming in town. Delilio said her current license already permits gaming and that she was not coming to the board “to ask for gaming,” but to allow full alcoholic pours after an expansion of her premises. Several trustees repeated that they did not want to expand gaming in Villa Park and that allowing another full-license classification without gaming might be preferable for the community.

After additional motions and an unsuccessful amendment to postpone the item until May, the board voted to postpone final action to its next stated meeting on March 10, 2025. The postponement motion passed 5–2 (yes: Cozart, Kumar, O'Fano, Patrick, President Cassell; no: Alfano, Cordova). Earlier in the item the board had voted 4–3 to waive the first reading so the item could reach a final vote more quickly; trustees who opposed waiving said waiving removed an opportunity for public input.

The board’s public record shows trustees seek a clearer policy on liquor-license classes and gaming going forward; staff said broader liquor-code revisions would be discussed in committee and in future meetings.

Votes at a glance: Waive first reading — passed 4–3; Motion to postpone to March 10 — passed 5–2.

Delilio said Mortadelli expects to finalize occupancy of its expanded space within a few weeks but urged the board not to require surrender of an existing gaming authorization she holds. “If you want gaming, I can have it right now,” she said, adding that she does not intend to use flashing signage or other displays she described as “tacky.”

The board did not adopt the ordinance on Feb. 24; trustees instructed staff to return the matter for a second (final) reading on March 10.