State Rep. Larry McKeon has introduced an amendment to the Illinois Liquor Control Act of 1934 that will preserve the Chicago bar Big Chicks' status a neighborhood landmark. State Rep. Harry Osterman is co-sponsor.
McKeon and other elected officials and community leaders have been struggling for several months to help Big Chicks and its owner Michelle Fire stay in Uptown. The city has moved to close Big Chicks and has refused to issue a liquor license to Tweet, its companion restaurant, because they are located approximately 90 feet to a religious institution. The rarely applied prohibition has never been a problem for Big Chicks before, but now threatens closure of the popular LGBT gathering place.
HB 4031 amends the Liquor Control Act to allow that a liquor license may be issued or renewed if 'the primary entrance of the liquor establishment and the primary entrance of a place of worship are located at least 100 feet apart, on parallel streets, and separated by an alley, and the principal religious leader of the place of worship indicates written support for the liquor license.' In the case of Big Chicks/Tweet, the primary entrances are well over 1,500 feet apart and are on opposite parallel streets, McKeon said.
McKeon plans to call HB 4031 for a vote during session during the week of Feb. 3 and then the bill moves to the Illinois Senate. After passage in the Senate, the bill will move to the Governors desk for signature. McKeon hopes this process will be completed by late April. During this time, attorneys for Big Chicks/Tweet will work to continue the hearings before the Liquor Commission until this summer.