Moonshine, Beer Distillery Proposed In Joliet

JOLIET, IL - When you think of Joliet, moonshine doesn't come to mind, but that may change soon. This week, the Joliet City Council will review a proposal for A1 and A2 liquor licenses being sought for an enterprise called Lugan's Brewing. The property is at 480 South Hammes Ave., in the vicinity of St. Jude's Catholic Church, which is along McDonough Street.

The memo before the council indicates the distillery would go inside a multi-tenant building and construction would need to take place before the facility is operational. The surrounding land is zoned for neighborhood businesses, light industrial, religious/institutional and single family residential to the west.

Saulilus Sadauskas and Martin Ruzgys have appeared before the city's liquor commission to talk about their vision for the start up business.

"The intent of the establishment is to distill beer and moonshine," the city document states. "Mr. Sadauskas stated there will be no consumption of the premises and would like to open in February 2019."

Lugan's Brewing would consist of two full-time employees and one part timer.

The liquor commission informed the council that approval of the requested liquor licenses "should not alter the essential character of the area or the city as a whole."

The A1 liquor license allows for a brew pub and the A2 is for a craft brewery.

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