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Spilt Milk Tavern Wants To Open Outdoor Patio, But Some Neighbors Oppose It

By Mina Bloom | January 12, 2017 5:47am
 The inside of Spilt Milk Tavern
The inside of Spilt Milk Tavern
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Richard Shilkus

LOGAN SQUARE — Spilt Milk Tavern, a newcomer to Logan Square's booming cocktail bar scene, is looking to expand its footprint by opening an outdoor patio — despite opposition from immediate neighbors.

The owners are hoping to build the open-air patio in place of the parking lot behind the bar, 2758 W. Fullerton Ave. According to neighbors, current plans call for a capacity of 74 people, which is down from the 102 people originally proposed.


The exterior of Spilt Milk Tavern [DNAinfo/Paul Biasco]

Some immediate neighbors oppose the plans, saying it will create a public nuisance. They also allege the bar owners did not disclose plans for a patio when the bar was first being discussed at community meetings. The owners told Chicago Magazine, however, that they were hoping to open a patio by the spring.

"We would've been against opening the bar in its entirety if we knew there would be a patio attached to it," neighbor Randal Miller said. "Now, people are going to be spilling out into the street."

Miller, who has lived in his home since the late 1970s, helped form a petition against the patio that gained about 25 signatures — all from neighbors who live within a 250-foot radius of the bar. He said he's planning to gather more signatures in the coming days.

"We're not trying to insert ourselves into this business venture. We're just concerned residents and this really should have community input," he said.


The parking lot where Spilt Milk wants to open a patio [DNAinfo/Mina Bloom]

Neighbor Gimi Ramos, who has lived in his home for about 40 years, shares Miller's opinion, saying he's concerned about "the noise level, the amount of garbage and security."

In an email, co-owner Anthony Selna called neighbors' concerns a "priority."

"Just waiting on approval from city for our amended plans to present to them," Selna said.

In an attempt to come to a consensus, Ald. Joe Moreno (1st) has agreed to host a community meeting on the matter at 11 a.m. Jan. 28 at his ward office, 2740 W. North Ave.

Moreno's chief of staff, Raymond Valadez, did not say whether the alderman supports the patio or not. Instead, he said Moreno "will be obtaining additional community feedback."

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