Aurora could soon allow alcohol service at some restaurants as early as 7 a.m. on Sundays.
Aldermen on the City Council Rules, Administration and Procedures Committee recently recommended changing the city’s ordinance regulating alcohol sales to allow 7 a.m. service for restaurants that serve only breakfast, brunch and lunch on Sundays.
To get the endorsement for 7 a.m. Sunday service, the restaurant must have a full kitchen, serve by the drink for on-site consumption only, and close by 3 p.m.
The change was suggested by the restaurant Syrup, 1961 W. Galena Blvd., which is open only for breakfast, brunch and lunch. They said because they close in the afternoon and don’t serve dinner, they get less hours to serve alcohol, according to Jennifer Stallings, Aurora’s city clerk.
“They asked if the city could consider modifying the hours for those places that aren’t open late,” Stallings said.
She said as far as she knows, Syrup is the only such restaurant with a liquor license, but she was unsure.
Ald. Carl Franco, 5th Ward, pointed out that the city used to allow early morning hours for some taverns – known for years as third-shift bars – for people who worked an overnight shift and wanted to stop for a drink after work.
But the city outlawed those licenses because of problems, particularly downtown, with drunkenness issues.
Stallings said the suggested change would not allow drinking at 7 a.m. everywhere, only for restaurants that close at 3 p.m. That would winnow out most regular taverns, and any restaurant that serves dinner.
“A bar wouldn’t be allowed to apply for this if they’re open past 3 p.m.,” she said.
Aldermen on the committee recommended the change 5-0.
Committee members also recommended changes to the liquor law that applies to home delivery of alcohol, including for e-commerce establishments that deliver in the city.
Stallings said the state of Illinois has passed a new law regulating alcohol deliveries, and the suggested changes to the city’s code would conform to state law. The new state law expressly pre-empts home rules powers on this issue, she said.
“We no longer have the ability to say who can deliver,” she said.
The law does not apply to drive-thru facilities, so the city “does have control over drive-thrus,” Stallings said.
