Houlihan’s, alongi’s to open in Carbondale this fall

The Local Liquor Control Commission voted 6-0 Tuesday to grant liquor licenses to two new restaurants opening in Carbondale.

Bar liquor licenses were granted to Houlihan’s, under construction at 2310 Reed Station Parkway, and Alongi’s, at 1237 East Main Street.

The class A2 license granted by the commission allows the sale of all alcohol by the glass, as well as bottles of wine.

The granting comes just weeks after the commission denied a class C liquor license to Wal-Mart.

Jeremy Hayes, economic development manager for the city of Carbondale, said the city has approved site plans for a 5-story Holiday Inn complex to be attached to Houlihan’s, and a Sleep Inn to be located on the south side of the Reed Station Parkway. No building permits have yet been issued for the hotels.

City Manager Jeff Doherty said the Reed Station Parkway is part of the city’s enterprise zone, which provides property tax incentives to businesses located there. The enterprise zone provides 100 percent property tax abatement for the first five years of the development, and 50 percent abatement for the second five years, Doherty said.

In other liquor commission business, Commissioner Sheila Simon raised a concern about noise coming from the beer garden at Pinch Penny Pub. Simon asked the commission to consider changing the noise ordinance so beer gardens are no longer exempt.

The commission also voted 6-0 to approve and file final reports from the Police Department, Fire Department, and Building and Neighborhood Services for the 2003-2004 license year.