The Bloomington City Council voted Monday to send a west side restaurant’s request for a beer garden back to the liquor commission.
Eric’s Too restaurant wants to expand its liquor license to allow outdoor beer garden alcohol sales. After approval from the liquor commission, the city council voted to send it back for further revision.
“There were complaints by both hotel general managers as well as a resident with regard to (Eric’s Too), and I think it would be a good idea to send this back to the liquor commission for additional comment from those business owners and others,” council member Jeff Crabill said.
The managers at two nearby hotels have previously cited safety and noise concerns.
Cristo Ortiz-Palafox is the general manager at Country Inn & Suites on Maple Hill Road in Bloomington, directly next door to Eric’s Too. He read the council a recent complaint from a hotel guest.
“He said, ‘The hotel is great. The bar next door made my Saturday night terrible. Our room was right next to the side (of) the bar, Eric's Too. The base on the music was impossible to get any sleep from 11:30 to 3 a.m. …’” Ortiz-Palafox read.
He said after multiple attempts, the owner of Eric’s Too—Eric Trujillo, who also owns Eric’s Restaurant at 903 W. Wood St.—has avoided meeting with the nearby hotel managers to work through solutions.
Eric’s Too sits at the former location of Cousin’s Restaurant.
Other Matters
The council also approved an intergovernmental agreement between the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District and the city to repair a sewage pipe.
Public Works Director Jim Karch explained the $300,000 is part of a 2020 Sewer Rehabilitation Proposal budget of $2.49 million, which the council also approved Monday.
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