Happy hour is coming to Glenview’s Farmers Market.
A popular libation sporadically available at Glenview Farmers Market last summer could soon be made available throughout the market’s entire five-month run, officials said.
The Glenview Village Board during its May 21 meeting gave preliminary approval amending the municipal code creating a “farmers market liquor license classification.”
If given final approval by the Board during its June 11 meeting a Wilmette-based company called “Griffin’s” will be able to sell its high-end bottled cocktails and give away samples to go with the fruits, vegetables, artisan cheeses and breads and other culinary delights at the market.
“From time to time additional license categories are added to allow alcohol sales in different way for new or existing businesses in Glenview,” Chris Clark, special project manager, with the Village told the Board.
He said the Village issued Griffin’s a temporary license last year to sell their product on nine Saturdays at the market. Due to the success of that trial run village staff are recommending the company be permitted to sell its drinks for the entire five-month duration of the market, held Saturdays at the historic Wagner Farm in the 1500 block of Wagner Road.
Clark said the Glenview Park District ran the market in 2023 and was very positive in their recommendation for Griffin’s. Staff consulted with the village attorney and it was determined the best approach for allowing the full-season alcohol sales to continue was to ask the village board to amend the village’s liquor ordinance to create the new class of liquor license, Clark explained.
Clark noted that the company already does business at the Wilmette farmers market and other venues throughout the north suburbs and Chicago.
He also said that imbibing in the product at the market is a big no-no.
Indeed “key points” regarding the new liquor license category include allowing the sale of alcoholic liquor for off-premises consumption only onsite sampling of the product, the license expires at the end of the 2024 Farmer’s Market season, those selling the product will be BASSET certified (Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training) a maximum of one license for Farmer’s Market sales of alcoholic liquor at any one time, a $350 licensing fee and a $525 fee to the Park District to be a vendor at the Farmer’s Market and Griffin must also apply for and pay for State of Illinois licensing.
“The next steps would also include the liquor commissioners’ consideration of Griffin’s application requesting permission to sell alcoholic liquor for off-premises consumption and to allow sampling at the farmers market,” Clark explained.
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
