Jun 2, 2010

Mayor breaks tie to create new wine-only liquor license in DanvilleBy Tracy MossNews-Gazette.com

Danville, IL – Mayor Scott Eisenhauer broke a 7-7 city council tie, voting to approve a new Class W license that will allow one downtown shop to sell wine in gift baskets and by the glass.

Unique Boutique, a clothing and gift shop at 30 N. Vermilion St., had asked for the ability to sell gift baskets that include wine and also sell wine to customers for consumption on site.

The business owners, Crystal McQuown and April Hix, plan to put bistro tables outside their clothing store and gift shop.

City officials preferred not altering existing liquor licenses and instead, proposed creating a separate, wine-only license geared toward a different atmosphere than what is allowed at bars, taverns, restaurants and package liquor stores.

But the proposal met resistance from aldermen and one downtown business owner, Bill Burnside, who objected to the sale of wine for consumption outside in the downtown area. Burnside told aldermen how alcoholism had recently caused a tragedy in his life, and although he believes in free trade for businesses, he suggested people consuming wine at tables in the downtown would be a temptation to some.

Alderman Rick Strebing, who voted against the wine license, said he received calls from bar and tavern owners in his ward who complained that they were required by the city to build walls to enclose their outdoor drinking areas when this business would not be required to do the same.

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