Liquor commission recommends village board approve Mortadelli’s Class I license despite recent sign violations

The Villa Park Liquor Control Commission voted on Feb. 3 to recommend that the village board amend section 3-313 of the Villa Park Municipal Code to reclassify one Class AAA license as a Class I and to issue that Class I license to Mortadelli LLC, which does business as Mortadelli.

The commission made the recommendation after the business owner and an employee answered commissioners’ questions about ownership, lease arrangements and recent notices of code violations. The owner, identified during the meeting as Danielle, told the commission she is the 100% owner and operator of Mortadelli and said an employee, Joseph, serves as a guarantor on the lease but is not an owner.

The discussion centered on a notice of violation the village issued to Mortadelli on Jan. 29 for temporary banner signs and for a blinking window sign. Danielle said the blinking window sign was unplugged immediately and that the two canvas banners were temporary, printed locally and hung because the business had no exterior sign after taking over an adjacent space. "I can pull them off right now," Danielle told the commission, and she said she had submitted a permit application for temporary banners after being told one was required.

Several commissioners said they were surprised the violation notice dated Jan. 29 had not been circulated to the commission before the applicant’s file was provided on Jan. 31. Commissioner King said the timing created concern about staff communication but stopped short of recommending delay: "I don't feel that we should delay our recommendation based on this," he said. Other commissioners argued the commission’s role is advisory and that the village board will make the final licensing decision, noting that the board could consider outstanding violations when it acts.

Commissioners also questioned the existence of a separate "Mortadelli Lounge" banner that was not reflected in the applicant’s paperwork. The owner said the two sides of the business (a deli and a bar/lounge area) prompted temporary banners to explain the expanded space and that she had not yet invested in a larger permanent sign because rules about protrusion and permitted fixtures had been unclear.

After debate over whether a notice of violation should halt the recommendation, the commission voted to forward a recommendation for approval to Village President Kevin Patrick and the village manager. Commissioners told the owner the recommendation would be sent to President Patrick and that Manager Rivas would determine when to place the item on a village board agenda; they identified Feb. 9 and Feb. 23 as upcoming meeting dates.

The commission did not record a formal roll-call tally in the transcript but several commissioners signaled assent during the motion; the chair said he would transmit the recommendation to the village president and copy the applicant as requested.

The commission concluded by advising the applicant to resolve any outstanding signage or code issues before appearing before the village board, noting that the board may factor unresolved violations into its final decision. The meeting adjourned at 7:33 p.m.