HUNTLEY – Tipsy’s Bar and Pizza, located at 10753 Dundee Rd., had to face the Village of Huntley’s Liquor Commission on April 22 due to various alleged violations of the Huntley Village Code and the Illinois Liquor Control Act.
According to Village Manager Dave Johnson, Tipsy’s Bar and Pizza was approved for a Class A liquor license and video gaming license in May of 2020, later opening for business in February of 2021. As of April 16 however, a notice was served to Tipsy’s Bar and Pizza owner Gino DeFrancisco, stating that reports filed by the Huntley Police Department observed conduct that violated village codes “upon the licensed premises in connection of operation of the licensee’s business.”
Tipsy’s owner appeard before the April 22 Liquor Commission to address alleged code violations, mostly for noise. To date, Tipsy’s has been issued four citations. Owner Gino DeFrancisco has worked to rectify the complaints and pled not guilty. (Photo provided)
A Liquor Commission hearing was set to take place in order to determine what action would be taken against the liquor license granted to Tipsy’s. Consequences could include revocation or suspension of a retail liquor license, or imposing fines against the licensee.
Before the hearing began, Huntley resident Michelle Reyes requested to comment on her experience with Tipsy’s, explaining she lives in the subdivision area that backs up to the bar.
“When Tipsy’s first opened, I received direct complaints from my neighbors and there were a couple of complaints about noise and they were immediately rectified, and I mean immediately. I haven’t been receiving more complaints on noise whatsoever,” Reyes said. “The consensus between my neighbors and in my neighborhood directly, the townhouses, is very positive with Tipsy’s.” Reyes ended her statement in suggesting that Tipsy’s deserves a chance to flourish within the village despite their growing pains.
Johnson continued the hearing by reading the list of violations cited against Tipsy’s. A bulk of the code violations involved police officers observing amplified music being played at a volume and/ or in a manner that violated village code section 130.09 entitled “Noise.” According to the agenda packet, the Huntley Police Department has responded to 10 noise complaints since Feb. 19. There were other violations observed such as police officers having to respond to an altercation and aggravated assault involving a firearm and responding to a bar patron who had vomited and passed out in the parking lot of the licensed premises.
Additionally, a state liquor compliance field inspector that was sent to inspect Tipsy’s on March 29, was cited as having observed violations of “state laws, regulations or permit conditions related to the sale of alcohol or liquor.”
Such apparent violations ranged from not having a state liquor license displayed to having contaminated liquor bottles, spills and broken glass observed in coolers. While DeFrancisco did not comment on the accusations during the hearing, he was able to provide further insight via his Facebook page.
“We have sound-proofed our back wall, which is closest to the townhomes behind us, with sound deadening materials. We have also hired an audio company which is working on more sound proofing materials (i.e., acoustic panels) for our location, as well as purchased a decibel reader to monitor sound. On top of that, we have zeroed out all bass along with lowering the overall volume. We are doing all we can to please everyone around us, unfortunately our efforts have still lauded us with anonymous complaints,” DeFrancisco stated.
DeFrancisco made it a point to say that he and his staff welcome those with concerns to discuss any issues in person in order to be more “hands-on with making any adjustments.” He explained that his goal is to give residents within the surrounding community, a place to walk to and socialize with other neighbors in the area.
To date, DeFrancisco has been issued four citations for fines totaling $1,350.
Following Johnson having read off all of the alleged violations against Tipsy’s, Huntley Mayor Chuck Sass asked DeFrancisco for his plea of either guilty or not guilty.
DeFrancisco pled not guilty. Sass stated that upon DeFrancisco’s plea, the hearing for prosecution and defense evidence would need to continue at another date scheduled to take place on Monday, May 3 at 6 p.m.
Following that hearing, the Liquor Commission will be asked to consider the evidence presented and issue a written decision regarding the alleged violations, any penalty to be imposed and reasons for the penalty, within five days after the hearing concludes.
