Kankakee license committee hears two liquor/gaming requests; takes no action

KANKAKEE — The Kankakee City License & Franchise Committee on Monday heard two applications from local businesses seeking liquor and, in one case, video-gaming privileges, but took no approvals and asked the applicants to return with revised plans.

Mr. Clark, owner of 5 Star Wings at 125 West Station Street, told the committee he seeks a Class G restaurant liquor license to "enhance our dining service," describing training, identification checks and security monitoring he said he would implement. The applicant signaled interest in on-premises pouring and, when asked, said he also expected to host patrons during weekend hours if allowed to serve alcohol.

City staff and committee members pressed Mr. Clark on the statutory and local definitions that differentiate a restaurant liquor license from convenience-store or grocery formats. Staff explained that a Class G license "authorizes the retail sales of alcoholic liquor for consumption at tables or counters on the premises" and that the premises must be "primarily devoted to the preparation, cooking and serving of meals" with an appropriate kitchen and staff.

The clerk noted the city's cap on restaurant liquor licenses: "We're currently sitting at 15. So we have 5 available." Committee members said they would consult absent ward aldermen before moving forward and asked Mr. Clark to follow up with more detail; no motion to grant a license was made.

Later in the meeting Sam Mohammed, representing G & S Foods (East Court Grocery & Deli) at 1560 East Court Street, outlined a plan to carve a separate, controlled gaming area and expand deli service. "Our business has been proudly serving this community for over 30 years," Mohammed told the committee and described steps he would take to restrict access to patrons 21 and older.

City staff told Mohammed there is currently no license that exactly fits a combined convenience-store-with-gaming concept. Gaming generally requires either a qualified pour license attached to a primary restaurant (Class A, G or H) or a separate video-gaming-cafe license (Class B). Staff also said the city has reached its cap on Class B video-gaming-cafe licenses. For a similar local example (a Maple Street location), staff noted the gaming operation had to be a distinct, demised retail space with a separate entrance, restroom and fire-rated separation from a liquor store or convenience area.

Committee members repeatedly said they were concerned about setting a precedent that would allow convenience-style operations to qualify for pour or gaming privileges. One member summarized the evening's result: "I think this evening the consensus is we're not gonna take any action," and asked the applicants to return with revised layouts or plans that clearly meet the criteria for the requested license types.

Next steps and procedural details: staff said that once licensing paperwork is filed, background checks and processing typically take about 14–20 days. Applicants were advised to consult with the mayor's office and the absent ward aldermen before the committee would consider a recommendation to the council.

The committee did not vote to approve either business's requested licensing changes at the meeting and instead directed staff and the applicants to follow up with additional documentation and ward input.