The Yorkville City Council has approved allowing NCG Cinema in Yorkville to sell alcoholic beverages at the theater.
Aldermen recently voted 6-1 to amend the city’s liquor code that creates a new license class for movie houses.
Voting in favor were City Council members Ken Koch, Jackie Milschewski, Dan Transier, Joe Plocher and Joel Frieders. Voting the other way was Ald. Chris Funkhouser. Ald. Jason Peterson was absent.
The city received a request from NCG Cinema to allow the sale of alcoholic drinks to movie theater patrons, city officials said.
“To accommodate this request, staff is proposing to add a new liquor license class allowing movie theaters to sell and serve alcoholic beverages,” Yorkville City Clerk Lisa Pickering said in a report to City Council members.
The new classification authorizes theater owners to sell beer, wine and liquor for consumption on a licensed premises operating as a movie theater. The change requires the sale of food, with the sale of alcohol an “accessory to the operation” of the business.
NCG Cinemas that have liquor licenses generally permit the sale of alcohol between 5 and 10 p.m., theater representative Ryan Jankovic told aldermen.
The code requires alcoholic beverages be poured from original containers into clear plastic containers before serving patrons. It does not permit glass containers or cans to be served.
Other rules do not permit happy hours on the premises. All alcohol purchasing and consumption laws apply to the theater, including checking the IDs of patrons looking to buy alcohol, according to the new code.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.