Aurora is likely to create two new liquor licenses for new downtown restaurants.
Aldermen are set to vote Tuesday on Class D liquor licenses, for on-site consumption in the downtown core, for two restaurants due to open in the restored historic Hobbs Building at Galena Boulevard and River Street.
Both licenses are on the consent agenda for the regular council meeting, meaning they are likely to pass.
One license would be for Giardino Pizzeria and Trattoria, 12 N. River St., and the other for Touche French Creole, 6 N. River St., right next door.
Kelsey Cozens, operations manager for JH Real Estate in downtown Aurora, developers of the Hobbs Building, has said both restaurants will have a sit-down bar and indoor seating. Officials also are working on outdoor seating for both along River Street.
She added that both restaurants will be priced in the mid-range.
Giardino Pizzeria and Trattoria will have a family-style experience, with a full-service Italian menu that will include wood-fired pizza. The tables will be set up to accommodate big parties, officials said.
Officials are looking to get Giardino open in September.
Touche French Creole will feature a French Creole menu, and will be open for dinner, Cozens said. The target for that opening is November.
The Hobbs Building was built in 1892 for the Hobbs Manufacturing Co., which made furniture and coffins in the building. Crosby’s Sporting Goods occupied the first floor from 1952 until sometime into the 1980s.
Developers Jay Punukollu and Harish Ananthapadmanabhan, owners of JH Real Estate Partners LLC, based in Aurora, redeveloped the Hobbs into 33 apartment units on the upper floors. The upper floors were likely vacant for about 70 years, city officials said.
The overall redevelopment project was about $13 million. JHS used state and historic tax credits worth about $1.9 million from the federal government and about $2.7 million from the state government. The rest of the cost was covered by equity applied by the company, a traditional loan and some money from the city.
A key part of the project after the apartments has been three restaurant suites on the first floor. The liquor licenses recommended are for two of those restaurants.
The other restaurant, Leilani Asian Fusion, right at the corner of Galena and River, is set to open soon.
slord@tribpub.com
