Pending code inspections and approval from acting mayor Kris Povlsen, Detox Bar and Grill will be opening its doors in the near future.

The DeKalb Liquor Commission passed the business plan for Detox Bar and Grill, 1000 W. Lincoln Highway, Monday night at their meeting. Povlsen said once he gets clearance from fire codes and other inspections, he anticipates passing the business plan which would give Detox Bar and Grill a class E liquor license. Povlsen said a Class E license mandates that a person who is buying alcohol be seated at a table and order food.

Liquor commission member Michael Embry said he questions the owners’ decision to keep the name ‘Detox’ for the reason that it resonates well in the student community.

“If I thought this was the Detox bar that I used to go to and now it’s going be a different place — that isn’t the same,” Embry said. “There is a vast misrepresentation of [the] request from a class A to a class E license.”

Detox Nightclub, owned by Ransey Vazquez, surrendered its Class A license last year after two code violations. Povlsen said a Class A license requires patrons to be 21 years old to enter and does not require them to order any food.

Povlsen also expressed his concern with people thinking that Detox Bar and Grill is still a Class A liquor establishment.

“In order to be served alcohol, they have to be seated and they have to order food,” Povlsen said. “They can’t be wandering around with their beers. That’s going to be something that will be difficult to manage ... when they are used to thinking this is a Class A bar where you all walk around with beers in your hand and socialize with each other.”

Matt Legg, manager at Detox Bar and Grill, said the staff of the restaurant will take every precaution to make sure there is no underage drinking in the establishment. Legg said after 9 p.m., a wristband will be required to drink at the restaurant. He said the wristbands will be custom made and rotated in order to prevent people from illegally drinking.

Povlsen said he thinks this business could succeed in DeKalb if the business plan is carried out appropriately.

“I want to see you succeed,” Povlsen said. “I’m cautiously optimistic that it will, but I think you’re going to have your hands full. I want to see a venue where young people can go in and have entertainment and not drink alcohol and be with their friends who are of age.”

Embry warned the Detox Bar and Grill representatives that if they do anything unfavorable in the community, it won’t be long until the police chief and the liquor commission hear about it.

“You can’t hide anything in this community,” Embry said.

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