New pot lounge might come to West Peoria’s Sky Harbor Steak Home
4 min read
WEST PEORIA — A cannabis lounge is poised to get over the legendary but shuttered Sky Harbor Steak Residence.
On Tuesday evening, the West Peoria City Council will look at several ordinance changes — including a distinctive-use permit — that would allow the creation of the High Harbor Hashish Event Middle at 1321 N. Park Highway. The enterprise wouldn’t sell marijuana.
Somewhat, the web-site would function as a club that would permit website visitors to provide and smoke their possess legal pot whilst listening to bands and usually socializing.
“I feel it can be heading to be an intriguing principle,” Mayor Jim Dillon informed the Journal Star.
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Ahead of Tuesday’s conference, he declined to divulge the identities of the investors, besides to say they are concerned with a marijuana dispensary in central Illinois. Having said that, he said, the buyers have met with the city thoroughly.
“They’ve got their act collectively,” Dillon mentioned.
Cannabis lounges have been popping up in various states. By Illinois law, nearby communities can regulate this kind of enterprises. Illinois has just one particular, the Luna Lounge, which opened very last weekend in the village of Sesser near the southern suggestion of the state. A cannabis lounge has been proposed for Springfield as perfectly.
Many months back, West Peoria was approached by a group of traders searching for a web site for a one-time cannabis-themed celebration, Dillon stated. When surveying houses with ample place, they appreciated what they saw at Sky Harbor. Last calendar year, the Klusendorf loved ones, which had operated the restaurant at the web site because 1996, explained wellness woes had been prompting them to shut functions and put the assets up for sale.
As talks progressed, the traders decided to look for a lasting presence at Sky Harbor, Dillon claimed. They are in the method of buying the assets, claimed operator Daryl Klusendorf, who also declined to divulge their identities.
“These folks are likely to make investments some significant money and do some renovations,” Klusendorf stated.
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The intention is to open the lounge this calendar year, Dillon claimed. At to start with, the company very likely would concentrate on occasional gatherings, but in time would offer you typical several hours, Dillon mentioned.
The Substantial Harbor will not allow website visitors underneath 21, nor will liquor be sold. Dillon thinks functions would cease by 10 p.m.
Clients would pay back a charge to enter, or they could purchase memberships, Dillon said. Even though Large Harbor are not able to function as a dispensary — the condition vets each dispensary licenses, which the investors are not looking for for that internet site — it could promote smoking paraphernalia, these as pipes and papers, together with tobacco and tobacco products and solutions. Within, company would have entry to numerous lounges for socializing, together with a bandstand for musical functions.
An outdoor location would make it possible for for function distributors and food vehicles. Nonetheless, all marijuana intake would be confined indoors, Dillon mentioned.
For its section, West Peoria could make dollars from gross sales tax on tobacco and other objects marketed at Large Harbor, Dillon said. He also reported traders have indicated a future desire to most likely search for licensing for a dispensary in other places in West Peoria.
What’s more, Dillon said, the West Peoria small business neighborhood would benefit from a return of exercise at the address.
“It’s getting a constructing which is been shut considering that COVID and opening it back up yet again,” he mentioned.
Dillon explained he expects the council to vote favorably on the ordinance improvements Tuesday. He has not listened to any objections to the cannabis lounge.
“I have listened to men and women say, ‘I’d much fairly see something like that than another tavern,'” Dillon reported.
In addition to the Substantial Harbor title, other factors of the company would pay homage to the record of Sky Harbor, which the Klusendorfs formerly operated just outdoors the Peoria airport. For occasion, one spot would be called “The Skyway Lounge,” while one more would be dubbed “The Cockpit.” The outside extend – alongside the property’s wide parking good deal – is to be identified as “The Tarmac.”
As for are living music, the new procedure would be continuing a tradition extended helmed by banjo-picker Klusendorf and in some cases accented by his washboard-strumming mother, Ellen Klusendorf. The bandstand is to be regarded as The Klusendorf Phase.
“They purchasers look to want to retain some of the character of the aged position. We are undoubtedly in favor of that,” mentioned Daryl Klusendorf. “We have experienced a presence in West Peoria for additional than 25 yrs.”
Does he prepare to pay a visit to The Klusendorf Phase?
“I might surely dust off the banjo,” he explained with a chuckle. “And mom could convey her washboard.”
Phil Luciano is a Journal Star columnist. He can be achieved at [email protected] and 309-686-3155. Stick to him on Fb and Twitter.
