The city of Aurora is working to establish rules around the sale of liquor and other alcohol at the new Hollywood Casino resort, which is set to open within the next few months.
The proposed Farnsworth Bilter Entertainment District, which is planned to only include the under-construction casino and resort site, would have its own special liquor licenses that bars, restaurants and other locations within the casino could apply for. These licenses would be different than others given by the city, for instance, by allowing patrons to take their drinks with them if they stroll to another part of the resort.
The new location of Hollywood Casino-Aurora — located along Farnsworth Avenue and Bilter Road, across the street from Chicago Premium Outlets mall and near the Interstate 88 interchange — will replace the casino currently in downtown. Construction officially broke ground in November 2023, and it is planned to open before June 30.
Alcohol is expected to be sold at five different locations within the main casino: at a sports bar in the sportsbook, at the main O Bar, at the Asian restaurant Red Lotus, at the entertainment bar to be called “& Vine” and on the casino floor itself, according to a presentation given to the Aurora City Council’s Rules, Administration and Procedures Committee on March 3.
In addition to the main casino, the presentation showed that three other locations are also expected to seek a liquor license: non-gaming areas like the spa and the hotel, the VIP lounge and the social hall.
Three different types of liquor licenses are being proposed for the casino, Aurora City Clerk Jennifer Stallings said at the meeting.
There would be a general on-site license to cover things like bars and restaurants. But there would also be a specialty on-site license for in-room mini-bars and room service within the hotel, she said, and a package sales license for a convenience store within the hotel.
The latter two are a bit different than what the city typically offers, according to Stallings. For example, the city’s other package sales license does not allow people to drink the alcohol they buy in packages on-site — they generally have to take it home, she said.
Per state law, the 24-hour gaming floor will be allowed to sell alcohol from 9:30 a.m. to 4 a.m., Stallings’ presentation showed. Other parts of the resort would need to follow the city’s allowed hours, which change based on the day but are broadly from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. or 2 a.m.
The liquor licenses within the proposed district would also be eligible for two “endorsements,” which are like special additions to the license.
The “strolling” endorsement would allow people to take the drinks they buy at one part of the casino resort to another, including to enclosed patio space and an outdoor venue, Stallings said. The other endorsement would allow the on-site spa to offer packages that include up to two drinks.
The new entertainment district for the casino was unanimously recommended for approval by the Rules, Administration and Procedures Committee. The proposal still needs to go before the Aurora City Council for final approval, likely on March 24.
The new casino and resort is expected to have 1,200 gaming positions, about 220 hotel rooms, a retail sportsbook, an outdoor entertainment area, a full-service spa, a roughly 12,000-square-foot event center with meeting areas and a number of bars and restaurants.
Hollywood Casino-Aurora in late January announced new details about the spa, which is set to be the second location of a Pennsylvania-based luxury wellness spa. Drift Spa, by beauty and wellness entrepreneur Stacey Steffes, is set to offer classic spa experiences along with hair and beauty services.
Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis will be opening an Italian steakhouse called Sorella at the new Aurora site. The restaurant is expected to have outdoor seating and an open kitchen with a menu including fresh pasta, steaks, Roman-style pizza and other Italian dishes.
Also coming to the Aurora site is the Boulevard Food & Drink Hall, which is set to include Lucky Goat, a burger restaurant by celebrity chef Stephanie Izard, as well as Antique Taco, Pretty Cool Ice Cream and Five50 Pizza.
The food hall is being developed in partnership with McClain Camarota Hospitality, the restaurant group of James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Shawn McClain.
At the March 3 committee meeting, Greg Moore, vice president and general manager of Hollywood Casino-Aurora, said nearly all of the amenities within the casino resort, including the hotel itself, will be fully owned and operated by Hollywood Casino-Aurora. For instance, Sorella will be fully owned and operated by the casino, with De Laurentiis providing things like training and recipes to the restaurant, he said.
An exception is the social hall, Moore said, which is being structured like a landlord agreement with McClain Camarota Hospitality renting from the casino.
rsmith@chicagotribune.com
