The Keg of Evanston and 1800 Club will apply for new liquor licenses which will allow them to stay open until 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, representatives of the bars said.
Tom Migon, owner of The Keg, 810 Grove St., said he will meet with the Evanston Liquor Control Review Board on Thursday to request a license that would allow the bar to stay open until 2 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Evanston City Council approved the extended hours and the new license on April 22. The review board will recommend which businesses receive the new licenses on a case-by-case basis.
Migon said keeping bars open later will help Evanston financially.
“I’m sure it’ll benefit everyone, the city and the business owners,” Migon said.
Brian Irons, manager of 1800 Club, 1800 Sherman Ave., said the bar’s hours should be extended within two or three weeks.
“It’ll be great because at one in the morning we’re kicking people out the door, and they’re obviously not ready to leave yet,” Irons said.
At an Administration and Public Works Committee meeting April 9, Ald. Ann Rainey (8th) said she had concerns about extending bar hours because some bars have significant “social issues” when closing. Irons said he does not expect this to be a problem for 1800 Club.
“We’ve had some strange things, like guys trying to urinate on the floor,” Irons said. Fights, however, have not been a problem, he added.
“We don’t have that kind of crowd,” he said.
At least one downtown bar will not be applying for the new license.
Based on staffing issues and a lack of customer interest, Tommy Nevins Pub and Restaurant, 1450 Sherman Ave., will not be extending its hours, assistant manager Jan Bryan said.
Bryan said he was concerned about having to keep Nevins’ kitchen open later, since customers must be able to order food while alcohol is being served.
Sending workers home at 3 or 4 a.m. also would “take its toll,” he said.
“Overall, the possible gains in staying open an extra hour wouldn’t be that great,” Bryan said.
Irons said keeping 1800 Club’s kitchen open would not hurt business.
“We still do a fair amount of food throughout the night,” he said.
Paul Huber, manager of Pete Miller’s Steak House, 1557 Sherman Ave., said he did not know whether the restaurant would be applying for a new license. The owners of Prairie Moon, 1502 Sherman Ave., said they had not made a decision about extending hours.
Though the creation of the new license passed in City Council last week, it cannot officially become law until signed by Evanston Mayor Lorraine Morton. Morton said she has not received the ordinance yet and will sign it “whenever they get it to me.”
“I hope it will be soon,” she added.
The new law will take effect 10 days after Morton signs it. During the 10 days, businesses formally will be notified of the new law.
Bars are not eligible for temporary licenses, officials said.