The Park Ridge Farmers Market will offer drinks — but only for a limited time and in a limited area.
At the April 6 city council meeting, a divided board approved alcohol sales from 9 a.m. to noon and only within the confines of the farmers market area—not Cumberland Park, next door. The time was pushed earlier from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Elia Café owner Taso Pyroulis requested the permit to sell mimosas at the market. He has told the council he plans to use fruit juices from local vendors.
At the initial hearing, in March, some alderpeople seemed concerned about whether alcohol would be permitted in Cumberland Park. The city’s park district oversees the area, not the city, so some on the council worried it would be a logistical headache keeping farmers market patrons from drinking in a park next door to the proposed site of the Elia Café tent, should the park refuse to allow it. Those concerns were echoed again this week, but City Manager Joe Gilmore noted the park district’s permission is predicated on the city’s permission. The park district wouldn’t have a reason to permit alcohol in the park during the farmers market if the farmers market didn’t even allow alcohol sales.
“It’s a bit of chicken and egg,” said Gilmore. “The park district is not going to make an agreement with the farmers market until this body allows alcohol at the farmers market.”
He noted the market would have signage alerting patrons not to take beverages off-site.
John Sea, the executive director of the park district, was on hand, and while he wasn’t on the agenda and said he’d not planned to speak, he addressed the board and said he’d work with Pyroulis on the matter.
“I would be happy to work with the applicant to talk through all the insurance requirements for the consumption of alcohol in Cumberland Park,” he said.
The farmers market will kick off Memorial Day weekend at the end of May. This is the first year the market will not be held at the AT&T parking lot and instead will be held down the street, closer to Cumberland Park. The park district has agreed to provide picnic tables at the park and city leaders wanted to be clear that the alcohol permit has nothing to do with the park.
“For the adjacent Cumberland Park, they would have to work with the park district,” said Alderperson Lauren Rapisand, of the café owners. “They would be making a separate agreement that does not include the city.”
“Correct,” said Gilmore. “The park district has the authority and the decision-making over Cumberland.”
Rapisand said she wouldn’t vote for the permit until the park district agreement was in place. Alderperson Joseph Steinfels also voted against allowing alcohol at the market, but it nevertheless passed, five to two.
Alderperson John Moran pointed out that any problems could be resolved later.
“The new restriction on the parking lot that we can’t use, this is all brand new,” he said. “We’re just going to have to move froward with this new location and if there are little frictions we’ll have to deal with those.”
Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
