DeKalb gave two new bars the go-ahead at Monday’s city council meeting.
The council voted to create a new A-CBD license that will allow Debut Wine Cafe, 251 E. Lincoln Highway, to open in the downtown district without using an existing class A license.

The council also approved a special-use permit for KRK Enterprises, Inc. The group now hopes to capture one of the remaining class A licenses and open Reilly’s Bar and Eatery, 1215 Blackhawk Road as a full bar.

Deputy Liquor Commissioner Cory Warren said that aside from operating a wine bar, Debut hopes to create a piano bar environment and serve specialty drinks including martinis.

Earlier this month, Warren said the wine cafe hopes to attract graduate students and young professionals in a change of atmosphere for the downtown bar scene.

“We are confident that they [Reilly’s and Debut] are well qualified to run a business,” Warren said. “Whenever we go there [Reilly’s] we don’t have problems.”

Class A-CBD licenses will require each prospective owner to submit an Application for Development Agreement to the council. Each license could then be tailored to the specific business.

While acknowledging that some concerned residents had contacted them, the council voiced overwhelming support about allowing Reilly’s to open.

“There’s a lot of positive anticipation,” said 1st Ward Alderman Bertrand Simpson.
A class A license has the additional benefit of added control, according to 2nd Ward Alderman Kris Povlsen. Only patrons 21 years and older may enter a class A establishment, decreasing chances of underage drinking problems.

Reilly’s owner Mark Raff said that with the permit approved, KRK will set up a time line for opening. Warren said many of the repairs required to open with the special use permit, such as repairing building exits, have been met and now much of the time will be consumed by the paperwork.

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