BEVERLY — A community meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday will discuss breaking a ban on alcohol sales that dates back to Prohibition.
The stretch of 95th Street that runs through Beverly has long been "dry." Barraco's would like to transform the former Beverly branch of the Chicago Public Library at 2105-2221 W. 95th St. into a banquet facility.
Owners of the Italian restaurant and pizza chain have asked to sell alcohol at the location. Officials with the family-owned restaurant group will answer questions about the project along with Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th) at the meeting at Ridge Park, 9625 S. Longwood Drive in Beverly.
O'Shea supports the plan that will invest $1.7 million into the long-shuttered building that served as the neighborhood's library branch from 1981-2009.
Neighbors are required to sign off on any changes to the law that would allow Barraco's to obtain a liquor license. The proposed banquet hall would operate under a different name than Barraco's. It also wouldn't have regular business hours like a traditional restaurant. Instead, it would be open only for parties.
Barraco's invested several million dollars in its first Chicago location that opened in Mount Greenwood in May 2014. The restaurant at 3047 W. 111th St. has proven to be successful, which has both O'Shea and the Barraco family feeling confident about this latest foray into the neighborhood.
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