New Elmhurst Sports Bar And Grill Planned

ELMHURST, IL — A new sports bar and grill and a liquor store are planned for a building in Elmhurst that has gone unoccupied since last year.

As part of the liquor license process, the city on Thursday posted information online about the plan.

The bar and liquor store are planned for a 14,000=square-foot building at 630 W. Lake St, which was once occupied by Arena Sports Grille and later Throw Nation.

The new ownership told the city it would extensively remodel the site, including both the interior and exterior. A single owner plans to control both businesses, which will operate separately, according to the city's information.

The businesses will be named Arena Sports Bar & Grill and Lyon Beverage Depot, the city said.

The city's documentation includes a business plan, with the owner speaking in first person. But the owner's name is not included.

The owner said the Arena name was chosen because of the previous restaurant that operated in the same building for 37 years.

"I will not try to justify that this bar is going to be very different than any other typical bar. It is a typical bar and restaurant that will have great food and drink menu," the owner said in the business plan. "To stand out from our competition, we will also have a menu that has healthy options."

As for Lyon Beverage Depot, the owner said it would be a conventional liquor store.

"However, due to the type of neighborhood we're in, we will specialize in top shelf wine and craft beers," the owner said.

The documents do not say when the businesses would open.