Two Arlington Heights Restaurants Request Liquor Licenses

A pizzeria and a Korean restaurant got the preliminary go ahead to receive liquor licenses Monday. The owners of both restaurants appeared before the village’s committee of the whole meeting Monday.

Danny’s Pizzeria will be opening at the former Pompeii Restaurant location, at 4216 N. Arlington Heights Road. Co-owners, Jeff Martinez and Samantha Benak said they plan to serve pizza, sandwiches and other items, along with beer and wine.

Martinez owned Bogies Ale House in Mt. Prospect for 17 years until its closing in October 2012. He said he lost the property to the bank.

He told Arlington Heights trustees he never had any problems with his liquor license in Mt. Prospect, and was never cited for any violation.

He and Benak stated theyhave completed the Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training (BASSET) training, a requirement for anyone serving alcohol in Illinois. Martinez said the business will have 10 employees, and new employees will receive BASSETT training within 30 days of being hired.

The business will be family-run, by Martinez, his wife, Diana and, Benak who is his step-daughter. They have a five-year lease with two five-year options, Martinez said.

Trustee Bert Rosenberg commented that Pompeii did not do very well at the location, and asked how the owners plan to make the business a success.

Martinez said he has an email list of 800 active customers and feels he has a clientele that can sustain the pizzeria.

Jinmi Ok will be opening at 1918 S. Arlington Heights Road.

Owner Ms Ye Sook Choi faced more questions from trustees, who recommended a liquor license be granted with the condition that Sook Choi hire someone with experience in restaurant management and serving alcohol. That employee would be required to be interviewed by Mayor Tom Hayes, who serves as liquor commissioner, before the liquor license would be issued.

Sook Choi is opening the restaurant with her in-laws, who operated a Korean restaurant in Alaska before moving to the area. A native of Korea, Sook Choi said she was in the education field before moving to the U.S., and has no experience running a restaurant, however, she has taken the BASSETT training online.

The restaurant will be permitted to open, but without a liquor license until the conditions set forth by the village are met.