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'One Stop Dinner Party Shop' Makes Headway In Quest For Liquor License

By Linze Rice | September 25, 2015 8:24am
 The interior of Rogers Park Provisions, 6928 N. Glenwood Ave.
The interior of Rogers Park Provisions, 6928 N. Glenwood Ave.
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ROGERS PARK — The owners behind Rogers Park Provisions, a budding dinner party shop on cobbled Glenwood Ave., are closer to obtaining a liquor license for pre-packaged liquor that they say would make their store complete.

Owners Erik Archambeault and William Meek have had a swelling of support from the community and the alderman since sharing their plans to take over the former Armilla at 6928 N. Glenwood Ave.

"It's amazing," Archambeault said.

Ald. Joe Moore (49th), after what he described as "nearly unanimous" support from the community, officially gave the one-stop dinner party shop concept his seal of approval in lifting a liquor retail moratorium on the street.

On Thursday, the City Council gave the moratorium lift their approval as well.

But before the shop can sell alcohol, it must first pass through the city's Zoning Board of Appeals to gain a special-use permit because the area of Glenwood between Pratt and Lunt avenues falls under a moratorium on new packaged goods licenses — meaning the area is zoned to restrict the same type of license required by grocery stores to sell pre-packaged liquor.

In the meantime, Archambeault says while Meek continues to work at his day job downtown during the week, he will work in the shop — selling everything from local chocolates, barbeque sauces, salsas and honey, to handmade greeting cards, cheese and glassware.

When Meek isn't on the job on the weekends, he's at the shop with Archambeault.

"The weekends have been phenomenal," Archambeault said. "It seems like it's just been getting better and better everyday."

He said the store obtained its retail food license and has been selling charcuterie, baguettes and larger-than-life peanut butter cups that are "flying off the shelves."

Pre-packaged meats and cheeses are curated from across the Midwest, Archambeault said.

Candles, gift wrap and baking mixes also adorn the wooden shelves.

Archambeault says he's staying "realistic" when trying to conjure a timeline for the availability of fine spirits at the shop, but hopes for an early 2016 arrival — if not sooner.

While the owners wait for a liquor license, they've expanded their offerings to include food and drink items, as well as gifts, sourced locally around the North Side. [Rogers Park Provisions]

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