The Boozehound's Dish

Justice has prevailed, my brothas and sistahs!

Word in via email from an attorney with the City of Chicago Local Liquor Commission - our Plan of Operations for Drinks Over Dearborn has been approved!  WE'RE GOING TO OPEN!

They're calling with details tomorrow, so we'll get a better idea of what the next steps are, but we're hoping to be 100% open with delivery, online, etc within the next 30 days.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us get this far - we're one HUGE step closer!

Posted by kyle.mchugh at 07:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Hello True Believers,

The word from the city is in - we will be reviewed for our liquor license appeal sometime in the next 24 hours.

As of this morning, we're still in a stalemate with one neighboring building over closing time.  They would like us to close at 8 PM, a full hour earlier than anyone else in the industry.  I agreed to move up to 9 PM, but I can't give in that last hour and chop off our leg before the marathon begins.

So, cross your fingers, toes, and any other phlanges you may have that don't come out in polite company.  We may be ready to go very, very soon!

Posted by kyle.mchugh at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sorry to have disappeared for so long.  I've been fighting the good fight trying to get Drinks Over Dearborn open against pressure from a few local neighbors and, as a result, the Alderman's office.

I met with the three people opposing me this afternoon.  It wasn't pretty.  They believe that people waiting in line at the Excalibur/Vision club will want to buzz upstairs, buy a warm $4.00 individual Belgian beer, and proceed to go back and drink it in line.  They also think that when my (in their eyes) crazy idea of selling really fun, high-end beer, wine, and spirits to an upscale clientelle from a second floor space doesn't fare so well, I'll immediately start selling Night Train, plastic pints of gin, and whatever I can do to stay afloat.  Since legally I COULD do that, I can't do more than give them my word on my reputation that I wouldn't.  They don't seem to care about my word.

Long story short, it may be several long months, if at all, before we can open. 

I'm going to be in the corner crying over my lambic, if anyone's looking for me...

Posted by kyle.mchugh at 04:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)