A Garfield’s Beverage store will open in Naperville Plaza if a variance allowing two Class D liquor license holders to operate in the same shopping center wins Naperville City Council approval.
The Naperville Liquor Commission voted Thursday to recommend the council agree to the request under which the family-owned liquor chain, now in its third generation, would take over the 88 W. Gartner Road location that for more than a decade was occupied by Peterson’s Spirits and Fine Wines.
Naperville Plaza’s 115,380 square feet of commercial space is currently home to retailers Casey’s Foods, Trader Joe’s, Firestone Auto Care and Sherwin-Williams as well as fitness-related businesses and restaurants.
Trader Joe’s already has a Class D license, which would prevent the upscale beverage retailer from opening there without a variance. City code does not allow more than one Class D liquor license in a shopping center with 60,000 square feet or more to avoid having multiple package liquor stores in the same location.
Eric Prechtel, an attorney representing Garfield’s Beverage, said that because the 3,836-square-foot storefront was formerly occupied by a liquor store, it would be a consistent use for the plaza.
City officials said it’s likely the change in code limiting the number of liquor stores to one per shopping center was enacted after Peterson’s Spirits and Fine Wines and Trader Joe’s had already obtained their licenses.
Prechtel said the size of the shopping center far exceeds the city’s 60,000-square foot requirement for a single Class D license.
Adam Silverstein, chief operating officer for Garfield’s Beverage, said the company has 10 locations in Chicago and the suburban area and for several years has been named a top liquor store by Beverage Dynamics, a national alcohol industry magazine. His staff is knowledgeable about industry trends and helps customers find what they like, he said.
The company also has zero tolerance for underage buyers and uses verification software to prevent fake IDs from being used, Silverstein said.
In addition to alcohol, the company will sell cigarettes and other tobacco items but no vape products, he said. Typically, two or three employees will be on site at any given time, he said.
Commissioner Tony Signorella said he appreciated the company’s presentation and security efforts to prevent underage purchase of alcohol products.
The license variance recommendation was approved with a 5-0 vote. It will be considered by the City Council at a future meeting.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
