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Village creates new class of liquor license, awards it to Flossmoor Commons wine bar concept

After a few appearances in front of the Flossmoor Village Board, a man who plans to open a wine bar with video gaming in Flossmoor Commons finally got the green light in the form of a newly created liquor license.

The village board voted unanimously Monday, Dec. 20, to create a new liquor license class, A-1, that permits pouring from machine-operated systems and a limited amount of retail sales. The license was granted to The Cork Wine and Video Gaming Cafe, owned by Ronakkumar Patel and to be located in a 1,200-square-foot space at 19870 Kedzie Ave.

“I appreciate your patience through the process and I wish you luck with the business,” Trustee Gary Daggett said. “It’s to everybody’s benefit that you do well.”

Patel appeared before trustees for the fourth time Dec. 20, following his initial pitch in July, an updated plan in September and earlier this month following a request for a second license to allow retail sales in addition to serving wine, beer and liquor.

Some trustees criticized Patel on Dec. 6 for presenting little of his plans in writing and that those plans kept changing. They also wanted to know where retail products would be stored inside the business.

Patel, owner of Family Wines & Liquors in Homewood, came back to the board Dec. 20 with a written business plan as well as layout images.

“This is what I wanted all along,” Trustee James Mitros said. “I think it’s a nice representation.”

Trustee Brian Driscoll added, “We sent you back to the drawing board a little bit, but this is what we want to see.”

The idea, Patel said, is for people to drink beer, wine and liquor there in a wine bar setting, as well as have the opportunity to purchase select items in bottles to take home. The space also has an area for video gaming, as Patel said he intends to pursue a gaming license.

The plan calls for food to be brought into the wine bar from an Indian restaurant in Tinley Park and made available to customers in single, sealed containers. Patel said he is likely scrapping prior plans to also allow customers to bring their own food into the establishment.

Under the new license, retail is limited to 25% of the space’s floor area. The license also limits hours of operation at the business to 10 a.m.-11 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays.

Other business

  • Mayor Michelle Nelson appointed Jamie O’Shea to the position of vice-chair of the Community Relations Commission. That role was previously held by Trustee Rosalind Mustafa. Nelson said O’Shea is global practice planner and analysis coordinator for Jones Day. He was appointed to the CRC in 2019.
  • Police Chief Tod Kamleiter introduced Officer Guillermo Galarza to the community. Galarza, who took the oath of office at the meeting, started his law enforcement career in 2019 in South Chicago Heights. He started field training with Flossmoor on Nov. 19.

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