Binny’s Gets Liquor License; Barnes & Noble To Close in August

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — The Barnes & Noble store along Northwest Highway will close in August, and a Binny’s Beverage Depot is planning to open in its place this fall. The Crystal Lake City Council approved a liquor license for Binny’s on Tuesday night.

The new Binny's store required a Class 25 license, which allows the retail sale of an alcoholic liquor, for consumption, on the premises as well as the retail sale of alcoholic liquor in the original package between specified hours. In addition to package sales, Binny's will be hosting events at their Crystal Lake location, which will allow visitors to consume alcohol sold at the store while there, according to a memo to Crystal Lake's city council.

Binny’s CEO Michael Binstein said his company is excited to come to town and has been trying to open a Binny’s in Crystal Lake for more than a decade, according to the Northwest Herald. The company hope to open before the holiday season.

City officials are equally enthused to have a business filling the soon-to-be vacant space. Barnes & Noble, 5380 Northwest Highway, tried to negotiate the terms of its lease, but after not being able to come to an agreement with the property owner, decided to move out when it’s lease is up in August, according to the Northwest Herald.

Dozens of local residents shared their disdain over and Barnes & Noble being replaced by a liquor store on the Crystal Lake-Cary Patch Facebook page over the past day.

“We do not need anymore liquor stores. You can buy it anywhere including grocery stores, drug store, gas stations and other liquor stores. I am totally against this,” wrote Bob Gaddis.

Despite the negative feedback over social media, no one spoke out against Binny’s during Tuesday’s city council meeting, according to the Northwest Herald.

“We’re excited that Binny’s is going to enter the market,” Maieritsch told the Northwest Herald. “It’s a new retailer. It’s a national liquor store with beer, wine, spirits, cigars. ... Anytime you’re fortunate enough to draw a new retailer in to avoid having a vacant building is wonderful.”

There are nearby Binny's Beverage Depot stores in McHenry and Algonquin.

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