Larsen's Corner May Become The City Tavern

JOLIET, IL - If you grew up around Joliet and were of drinking age, there's a good chance you and your friends wandered over to the friendly neighborhood watering hole at the corner of Jefferson Street and Midland Avenue. This place was known as Kookie's Jar for a number of years. Since 1998, the drinking establishment at 1329 W. Jefferson St. has been Larsen's Corner. On Tuesday night, Joliet's City Council will vote whether to transfer a Class A liquor license to applicant Constantino "Dino" Kollintzas and his sister, Christina Kollintzas-Paulis. The brother and sister team say they are equal business partners.

The Kollintzas family plans to open The City Tavern at the current Larsen's Corner. They operate Metro Grill & Bar on Essington Road as well as George's Restaurant in Lockport. They have had Metro Bar & Grill since 2004 and they have owned George's restaurant since 1992, Christina Kollintzas-Paulis told Joliet Patch on Tuesday.

Their liquor license application for The City Tavern states that Dino Kollintzas has been involved in the sale and service of alcoholic beverages for 23 years.

The applicants are "of good character," a city administrative memo informs Joliet's council.

Christina Kollintzas told Joliet Patch she and her brother are looking forward to opening The City Tavern on Jefferson Street.

"We don't want to make too many changes," she told Patch. "We want it to have the same comfortable neighborhood atmosphere.

"But we will be making updates to the decor."

The City Tavern plans to employ six or seven part-time workers, keep regular hours and employ no one under the age of 21, city documents show.

"The Liquor Commission feels that the issuance of the liquor license would be in the best interest of the City, and therefore recommends approval of the license."

Image via John Ferak, Joliet Patch Editor