Hinsdale Liquor Rules Need Clarity: Official

HINSDALE, IL — Hinsdale village trustees this week generally agreed to allow liquor sales at two hair stylist businesses.

But one of the trustees said Hinsdale needed to clarify its liquor regulations because it has been approving "a lot of one-offs" in recent times.

Zazu Salon, 18 E. Hinsdale Ave., and White Buffalo Barbershop, 10 Grant Square, are seeking the licenses. They have common ownership.

Anthony Segretto, one of the owners, said the businesses were seeking help because of their losses during the pandemic. He noted the Village Board gave the go-ahead to allow liquor sales at the planned Frederick Lynn Haberdasshere clothing store.

Segretto said as the local law was written, it was designed to exclude businesses such as hair stylists from liquor sales.

Village officials confirmed they have granted liquor licenses to such businesses before.

When Village President Tom Cauley asked whether anyone had strong objections to the request, no one spoke.

"It sounds like this is a go. You have to go through the process of applying," Cauley told Segretto.

Trustee Scott Banke then urged the board to clarify its limits on liquor sales.

Cauley said Banke should speak with village staffers about coming up with proposed changes to the regulations.

"I think what we have done in the past, whether it's right or wrong, is that we have basically granted liquor licenses except in cases where someone is objecting," Cauley said. "We decided we would not grant one to a restaurant that is part of a gas station. In my mind, that is the only one we have refused recently."

Banke questioned the current process.

"I don't want to say it is random, but we're seeing a lot of one-offs," he said.

Trustee Neale Byrnes added, "We could have drinks at the hardware store if we're not careful."

Cauley said he was willing to put the issue on a later board meeting agenda.