Wheeling board approves Red Bottle restaurant special uses and a Class A liquor license; 4 a.m. tavern request denied

The Village of Wheeling’s Liquor Control Commission and the Village Board approved permits for Delta Kilo Inc., which plans to open the Red Bottle restaurant at 401 East Dundee Road, but denied the operator’s requested Class C (tavern) license that would have allowed closing as late as 4 a.m.

At the Liquor Control Commission hearing and again before the Village Board on Dec. 15, petitioner Dmitry Khlebnikov described Red Bottle as a full‑service restaurant that will offer live performances, karaoke, trivia and the occasional stand‑up show. Khlebnikov said the business will operate as a restaurant most of the time and asked for late‑night hours on weekend nights, but said he would accept a 2 a.m. closing time if required.

Village staff recommended against a 4 a.m. tavern license for safety reasons and said everything described by the petitioner fits within a Class A restaurant license, which allows alcohol service until 2 a.m. The Liquor Control Commission first considered a motion to approve the Class C license; that motion failed on roll call when all commissioners voted “No.” The commission then approved a Class A license conditioned on the passage of an ordinance by the Village Board creating the license, submission of all required certificates, payment of fees and satisfactory background checks.

Separately, the Village Board considered two zoning ordinances (docket numbers PSU25‑0015 and PSU25‑0026) to grant special‑use approval allowing indoor entertainment and an assembly/banquet use at the Red Bottle site. The Node of conditions carried over from the plan commission: all entertainment must be conducted inside the tenant space, amplified sound must not create a nuisance or exceed limits in chapter 8.24 of the village code, exterior doors must remain closed during events to prevent noise spillover, and hours of operation are to be determined by the liquor license granted by the Liquor Control Commission. On roll call the board approved both special uses unanimously.

What happens next: the applicant must secure the required village ordinance, submit certificates and fees, and clear background checks before the Class A license becomes effective. The plan commission’s and village board’s special‑use conditions remain in effect to limit outdoor noise and require staffing at events.