ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (WLS) — What began as a pandemic-era fix for outdoor dining in Arlington Heights has grown into one of downtown’s warm-weather draws. Now, village leaders are considering whether to add another feature to the popular alfresco zone: a “sip and stroll” program that would allow visitors to carry to-go cocktails within the designated area.
The four-block pedestrian-only district has remained a lively summer destination, bringing restaurant tables, foot traffic and entertainment into the street. Larry Rebodos, who owns Big Shot Piano Lounge and Restaurant, said the setup continues to energize the downtown scene.
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“All the restaurants are out here. We’ve got seating, I’ve got live music playing outside,” Rebodos said.
The proposal was brought forward by Village Trustee Tom Schwingbeck. Under the idea, customers would be permitted to take alcoholic drinks with them while walking within the boundaries of the alfresco zone. Schwingbeck said he got the idea after seeing a similar program in St. Joseph, Michigan, a place he frequently visits while on vacation.
“I’ve seen how successful this can be for the downtown area there,” Schwingbeck said. He also pointed to the potential benefit for diners facing long waits at busy restaurants. “Some of our restaurants don’t take reservations and it might be a 45-minute wait. You can go in; you can grab a drink and stroll around in our downtown business district.”
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If the village signs off on the plan, the pilot program would launch in August and continue through October. It would operate on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 9 p.m. Rebodos said he is in favor of giving the concept a try.
“I was born in Chicago. We have 3 months’ worth of good weather. So, every minute counts. I was all on board when they brought this up,” he said.
The idea, however, has not won unanimous support. Trustee Robin LaBedz said she has concerns about what could happen once drinks are taken outside restaurant spaces, including possible litter and underage drinking.
“I’m not worried about our restaurants checking IDs, they’re great about that, they know what they’re doing,” LaBedz said. “It’s when the alcohol comes back, away from restaurants and is in the public space. What then.”
The village board is scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. on Monday night to discuss the proposal and whether to amend the liquor code to allow open containers in the alfresco zone.
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