West Cook News

The village of Burr Ridge has recently amended ordinances to ensure all restaurants with liquor licenses must close at the same time each night.

“In essence, these two ordinances are intending to, in final, create a unified closing time for restaurants with liquor licenses in the business districts in the Village of Burr Ridge as has discussed and directed by the board for some time now," said Evan Walter, village administrator of Burr Ridge.

The board of trustees for the Village of Burr Ridge voted on a pair of motions at its May 23 meeting to make a uniform and non exemption ordinance that all businesses and restaurants with a liquor license inside of the business district had closing times of midnight and 1 a.m., depending on the day of the week.

The board had to research some of the previous zoning regulations for the businesses. While some previously were allowed to be open until 2 a.m., it was only because they received a special permit that allowed them to meet the maximum hours stated in the zoning ordinance, which is the ordinance being amended, so they would not meet any exemption requirements to continue with a 2 a.m. close time.

The pair of motions, one outlining hours of operation under zoning and one outlining stipulations of the liquor licenses, both passed. Each passed with a vote of 5-0 in favor of the motion. The amendment of the liquor license ordinance means that establishments are able to give last call one hour before their mandated close time, meaning they give last call at midnight if they are closing at 1 a.m.