Another Western Springs Bar On Way?

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – The owner of a Western Springs cocktail bar that closed in March told village officials a few weeks ago that he expected a new tenant to come.

In an April 13 email, Dan Schovain, owner of The Opry, asked the village whether he could store liquor in the old Opry space at 4354 Johnson Ave. through May 15, when his lease expires.

He said he had been in talks with a potential new tenant for a one-time inventory transfer. Keeping the liquor there, he said, would avoid moving the merchandise temporarily to a storage facility.

He said he had not sold any alcohol to the public since giving up his liquor license in late March.

In response, Village Manager Ellen Baer said regulations allowed certain storage of liquor inventory to accommodate a transfer to another state alcohol license holder.

In an April letter to Schovain, Baer said that the Opry owner had mentioned two potential transfer partners during a conversation. She said neither of the entities had submitted liquor license applications to the village.

Patch left a message with Schovain.

It was a tough last couple of months for The Opry.

In early March, a fight between employees drew local police, with officers finding a drunk employee behind the register, according to a report.

The month before, the Grand Ole Opry's owner, Ryman Hospitality Properties, sued the local bar in federal court over alleged trademark infringement. It pointed to the bar's name and repeated references to Nashville.