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Hammond council approves riverfront district allowing restaurant liquor licenses
Summary
The Hammond City Council voted unanimously to create a riverfront district that lets the redevelopment commission allocate restaurant-only liquor licenses inside defined boundaries, a move city leaders say will ease a barrier to downtown restaurant development.
The Hammond City Council on Feb. 9 approved Ordinance 26-03 to create a riverfront district that will allow the redevelopment commission to issue a limited number of restaurant-only liquor licenses within a defined downtown area.
Mayor (title: Mayor) told the council the move responds to a state quota that has left new restaurants forced to buy private liquor licenses — "often for tens of thousands of dollars" — which he said is a barrier for locally owned businesses. He said the ordinance uses a state statute permitting cities to designate districts and control restaurant liquor licensing in that zone.
Under the ordinance, the riverfront district is bounded to the north by Willow Court, to the south by Douglas Ogden, to the west by the state line and to the east by Oakley Avenue. The mayor and supporters said licenses would be limited to restaurants (not bars), subject to an application and annual reapplication process managed by the redevelopment commission.
"We already know of three establishments that are waiting for this ordinance to pass so that they can apply," Councilman Salinas said by phone through a colleague who stood in on his behalf. Councilman Kowalski confirmed the licenses would be tied to sit-down restaurants that serve food, not stand-alone bars.
Council discussion clarified that the state receives the fee for a state liquor license purchased on the open market, and the local riverfront application process would generate modest revenue but is intended primarily to support downtown development. The mayor cited examples of other Indiana cities that have used similar districts to encourage restaurants.
The council voted in favor on a roll-call vote. Clerk Golick recorded nine yes votes and zero no votes; the ordinance passed 9-0.
What’s next: The redevelopment commission will establish application procedures and conditions for licenses inside the riverfront district. Officials said restaurants will need to reapply annually under the program.
SOURCE: Hammond City Council meeting transcript, Feb. 9, 2026.
