The Oak Park Village Board has signed off on plans for the Noble Kinsman craft brewery to move forward on Roosevelt Road in Oak Park.
“I think I should point out that the Noble Kinsman are here,” said Paul Stephanides, the village’s attorney, ahead of the vote March 16. “If they have anything to say or if there are any questions of discussions.”
The three partners sat silently in their seats and gestured that they had nothing to say. Instead Victoria Scaman, the Oak Park Liquor Board Commission’s executive director, was invited to the dais to speak about the business by Village Board Member Adam Salzman.
“These gentlemen have done a great job,” she said. “They’ve got one of the best business plans that I’ve seen come before me and I’m just glad to welcome them into the community.”
The Village Board members at the meeting unanimously approved motions to give Noble Kinsman a craft brewery license and the ability to sell “package alcoholic liquors.” Trustees Peter Barber and Colette Lueck were not in attendance and Village President Anan Abu-Taleb did not vote because he owns a liquor license.
The village approved a special-use permit for the brewery to operate at 6806 Roosevelt Road last November, after the Village Board amended the village’s zoning code to allow craft breweries to operate within the village. The co-owners expect to open the craft brewery in 2015.
“We’re certainly happy to have the support of the village,” said Noble Kinsman co-owner Keith Huizinga in an email.
In addition to the village liquor license and construction permits, Noble Kinsman must still also get permits from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau to operate the facility.
Alex V. Hernandez is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.