New live-entertainment venues might find Evanston more attractive due to a new kind of city liquor license.
The license, which Evanston City Council unanimously approved Tuesday night, allows live music venues to serve alcohol without keeping a kitchen open. Dick Peach, president of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, said it was a “logical extension” of Evanston’s gradual reintroduction of alcohol that began 15 years ago.
But Peach also warned that the city will need to ensure that businesses applying for the licenses are actually live-music venues.
“No karaoke, no canned music, no jukebox,” he said.
Bill’s Blues, to be located at 1029 Davis St., will serve as a testing ground not for blues in Evanston, but also for whether the city can support the new type of business, Peach said.
Requests from the club prompted the council to consider a new liquor license in the first place. But after a debate within Evanston’s liquor board, the owners decided to go it the easy way and seek a standard license, which the council also granted at Tuesday’s meeting.
“These people knew Evanston well enough not to make any strong waves,” Peach said.
James Murray, a lawyer for the club, said the owners could seek the new license eventually, but took this route because it would guarantee an earlier startup.
Bill’s Blues plans to open in early May. The club’s owner, Bil Gilmore, could not be reached for comment, but has said he will feature traditional Chicago rhythm and blues acts. He might also occasionally host a cajun or roots group as well as student performers from Northwestern. Cover charge will be $5 for weekdays and $10 to $12 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Two other Evanston restaurants that host live music — Nevin’s Live, 1450 Sherman Ave., and Pete Miller’s Steakhouse, 1557 Sherman — must keep their kitchens open all night under their licenses.
Nevin’s has no plans to apply for the new license, said general manager Jamie Fritz. The kitchen, he said, is “one of the things that makes us a traditional Irish pub.”
Fritz said he thought it was responsible to serve food and alcohol together so patrons would not get too drunk.
Pete Miller’s Steakhouse hasn’t decided whether or not it will apply, said Mike Ruffo, a manager there. But he said the new license “sounds like a good idea.”
Ald. Lionel Jean-Baptise (2nd) said because the license was primarily created for the blues club, he doubts existing venues would seek reclassification.