West Cook News

Tonight the La Grange Village Board will consider a proposal to adjust the village's 60/40 liquor-sales ratio for restaurants—a policy that limits alcohol sales to no more than 40% of a restaurant’s total revenue.

Todd Van Cleave, President of the La Grange Citizens’ Council, has called on trustees to reject the proposed change and instead repeal the policy that he describes as an "outdated and arbitrary" rule.

“La Grange has incredible potential, but our current policy actively discourages new restaurants and stifles existing ones,” Van Cleave said. “Quality establishments are choosing to open in surrounding communities instead, and residents here are missing out.”

Local businesses including Milk Money Brewing and the recently opened Wooden Paddle have faced pressure from the Village under the policy. Milk Money, a brewery and restaurant that opened shortly after the pandemic, is currently under probation for exceeding the alcohol sales limit. 

A similar situation was cited in the closure of Monk’s restaurant in 2023.

Vocal supporters include Village President Mark Kuchler and Trustee Lou Gale, who have defended the rule for helping to prevent shootings and other incidents, though no specific evidence has been presented to support their claims. 

Van Cleave expressed concern about frequent adjustments to the ratio. 

"Every time the Village adjusts this ratio, businesses must recalibrate their operations, wasting valuable time and resources," Van Cleave said. "The fact that the board is now considering changing it from 60/40 to 50/50 highlights precisely how arbitrary this rule is. We don’t need another band-aid; we need a real solution."

Village Trustee Beth Augustine has also questioned the rule, calling it “prohibitively difficult” for some businesses during a 2023 meeting. She suggested that changing or removing the policy could encourage a wider range of establishments, such as wine bars and cocktail lounges, to consider investing in La Grange. 

La Grange is one of the few municipalities in the Chicago area with a strict revenue-based liquor policy, which Van Cleave argues has limited business diversity in the village. 

“La Grange is one of the few Chicago suburbs without a dedicated wine bar or cocktail lounge, not by coincidence, but by policy," Van Cleave said. “Repealing the 60-40 rule opens La Grange to innovative, quality dining experiences and shows that we support businesses that our residents genuinely want to see flourish."

The Village Board meeting will be held at Village Hall on June 9 at 7:30 p.m. Residents are invited to attend and share their input. The La Grange Citizens’ Council is an independent advisory group composed of members from all 11 voting districts in the village.