Buzz Cafe Becomes Oak Park's First Official BYOB Location

OAK PARK, IL -- Buzz Cafe recently became the first location in Oak Park to be granted a BYOB liquor license. The art-centric coffee shop, located at 905 S. Lombard Ave., has allowed guests to bring their own wine and beer in the past, but must pay to be licensed for the service after Oak Park developed a BYO license in 2018, Chicago Tribune reports.

The cafe's application for a liquor license was unanimously approved by Oak Park Trustees, but the issue of cost came up in the board meeting.

To get the official liquor license in Oak Park, Laura Maychruk, owner of Buzz Cafe, had to pay $500 for the license itself, in addition to a $250 processing fee and additional fees to certify employees to accommodate the service.

According to Chicago Tribune, some Oak Park trustees joined Maychruk in expressing concerns about the high cost of the BYO license fees at a recent village meeting. Trustee Deno Andrews, who owned the now-closed Felony Franks restaurant said at the meeting that he thinks a $500 fee is "way to much" given the financial challenges restaurant owners often face.

Trustees said they plan to discuss the issue of whether the current liquor license fees are appropriate at a later date.

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