‘I just want to make sure we do it right’: Vernon Hills could allow strolling with beer or wine at Hawthorn

A new business proposed for Hawthorn mall in Vernon Hills would feature self-serve beer and wine taps, allowing customers to drink alcohol while strolling through the shopping center.

While supportive of the Tapville Social concept, village officials want to ensure underage drinking won't occur before creating a new class of liquor license for the business.

Existing liquor licenses require a more specifically defined premises and don't include regulations pertaining to self-service, according the village.

Customers at Hawthorn could stay in the Tapville storefront or take their beverages into the mall’s common areas. Tapville operates similar models in Fox Valley Mall in Aurora, Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg and Fashion Outlets of Chicago in Rosemont.

As proposed, Tapville would occupy a unit between the center court kiosk and JC Penny on the first floor at Hawthorn and have a small number of seats. Customers would provide two forms of identification to an employee on site to receive a tap card capped at 32 ounces in a day.

As presented, there would be eight beer and eight wine taps as well as soft drinks

“The concept really works because of the ability to stroll through the mall,” Jennifer Tessendorf, who works in local leasing and business development for the mall, told village board members last week.

“We operate in over 15 malls so we know strolling is integral to the concept,” added Joseph Tota, Tapville CEO and founder. “It doesn't work unless you have the strolling.”

Tota said the company typically requires exclusivity from the mall, so it would be the only vendor of its kind. That would allow for a safety plan and the operation to be monitored.

“Your people are going to be monitoring it anyway, so I'm not really understanding why you would need exclusivity based on your reasoning,” said Trustee Michael Schenk.

Tessendorf said it would not be in the mall's best interest to open a similar concept elsewhere in the mall.

Village Attorney James Ferolo said strolling concept is unusual.

“We really need to consider the public safety concerns of making sure only individuals that are 21 are strolling and drinking in the mall,” he added. “There’s a reason Woodfield limits it to the food court.”

Trustees want to know if there are concerns or issues that should be considered in drafting a new class of liquor license.

Police Chief Patrick Kreis said he’ll check with authorities in the other locations to help trustees make an informed decision.

“Don't get me wrong, I like the concept. A lot,” Trustee Thom Koch Jr said. “I just want to make sure we do it right.”