A Carbondale commission has approved a liquor license for a new restaurant, which will include a dance floor and beer garden, scheduled to open near the Strip in the next few weeks.

The Carbondale Liquor Control Commission voted 4-1 Thursday in favor of a Class A-2 liquor license for Chadwick’s Bar & Grill, 204 W. College St.

An A-2 liquor license allows a restaurant to sell all types of alcoholic beverages, but 51 percent of the restaurant’s sales must be from non-alcoholic products.

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Mayor Neil Dillard voted against approving the license, saying it would be harmful to the city.

It will create more difficult work for our police department, Dillard said during the meeting. In my opinion, the issuance of a license is not in the best interest of Carbondale.

Councilmembers Larry Briggs, John Budslick, Mike Neill and Maggie Flanagan voted in favor of the new license for the business, which will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

The commission, comprised of the Carbondale City Council members, also voted to ban amplified sound in Chadwick’s beer garden.

Jonathan Stewart, Chadwick’s promotions and entertainment director, said he is not concerned about the restriction.

They’ve (the City Council) got a problem with that, and rather than throwing more fuel on the fire, they need to deal with it now, he said. It’s not really upsetting to us because we’re not planning on having any bands out there.

City Manager Jeff Doherty said he was concerned with the restaurant’s operation after 10 p.m.

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My primary concern was that they’ll be operating primarily as a bar after 10 p.m., in an area where we’ve had a problem with bar concentrations in the past, Doherty said after the vote.

During the meeting, Councilwoman Flanagan expressed concern about underage people in the restaurant.

Because Chadwick’s is considered a restaurant, it is exempt from the mandatory bar-entry age imposed on other businesses on the Strip.

Chad Little, president of Chadwick Enterprises Inc., said the restaurant will self-impose a 19-year-old entry age after 10 p.m., unless the underager is accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Before the vote, Dave Vingren, Undergraduate Student Government president, addressed the commission in favor of the restaurant.

Vingren said the building, which used to house Frankie’s Bar and Grill, has been vacant for two years and people interested in it should be given a chance.

We have an entrepreneur who wants to take it over, Vingren told the council, and if they’re not granted this opportunity, this place may stay vacant.

If this place stays vacant, I can’t see how it will help the Strip.

In an interview after the vote, Little said he was happy with the outcome.

To be honest, I couldn’t get a definite yes’ from any council member [before the vote], Little said.

Stewart said the restaurant will draw most of its business during the lunch hours.

There’s plenty of places to eat (on the Strip), but it’s all pizza and gyros, he said.

The restaurant will offer a variety of food dishes including Italian dishes, all-you-can-eat crab legs, sandwiches, desserts and steak.

The most expensive item will be the all-you-can-eat crab legs, which will be about $13 or $14, Stewart said.

He said most other dishes will be much lower in price.

We will have a T-bone steak for $6.95 with two sides, he said. We also have chicken parmigiana for $5.50 with two sides.

Stewart said the goal of Chadwick’s is to bring different entertainment to Carbondale.

It seems like the only thing to do is to stand around and drink, he said. We’re offering something else.

After 10 p.m., one of the dining rooms will be converted into a dance floor.

Stewart said the restaurant will be bringing in disc jockeys from time to time, including Bad Boy Bill, a disc jockey from Chicago.

Hopefully, our entertainment will be a little bit different, he said.

The business, open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., will feature a dance floor and a variety of food, including all-you-can-eat crab legs.