CITY HALL — City Winery is about to get permission to sell bottles of wine on the Riverwalk.
Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) submitted an ordinance to the License Committee Wednesday that would allow the West Loop winery to sell "specially branded" wines intended for sale to tourists from its Riverwalk location.
According to Reilly, City Winery would be the only vendor along the Riverwalk permitted to sell bottles of wine. They would be sealed for customers to take away, and it would be forbidden for them to take the bottle down the Riverwalk and drink open liquor along the Chicago River — or anywhere in public.
"Having successful concessions there is very important," Reilly said, adding that it would not allow the "unbridled" sale and drinking of wine along the river.
Vendors that sell alcohol for consumption along the Riverwalk must keep customers in front of their locations.
The new ordinance, Reilly said, calls for specific signs detailing the policy and customer education on what is and isn't permitted.
"This vendor will adhere to these rules," Reilly said, calling it "a privilege not an entitlement."
The measure passed without opposition and heads to the full City Council for passage next week.
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