Guildhall’s streetery supporters make their case before it’s removed

The streetery at Guildhall must come down, Glencoe trustees stated Thursday, reinforcing their previous decision.

Just not quite yet.

The trustees unanimously agreed to suspend the original closure date of Sept. 30, saying they’ll determine a new date for the streetery to close at the Village Board’s October regular meeting.

Trustees also directed Village staff on Sept. 18 to begin the process of drafting an ordinance that will allow for seasonal outdoor dining structures — not just for Guildhall but restaurants throughout the Glencoe business district, which trustees and restaurants referred to as “uptown.”

Nearly two hours of the regular Glencoe Village Board meeting Thursday was dedicated to the Guildhall streetery, with an hour’s worth of public comment and nearly an hour of trustee discussion.

More than 50 people filled the community hall at the Takiff Center — where the Village Board is holding its meetings while the Village Hall council chambers undergoes renovations — to share their thoughts on the streetery..

As previously reported by The Record, Glencoe trustees approved the “streetery” for Guildhall, 694 Vernon Ave., in April 2022, with the outdoor dining structure opening in October of that same year.

It was initially approved as a way for the restaurant to weather the COVID-19 pandemic, Village officials said. In 2023 and 2024, the agreement between Guildhall and the Village was extended, with trustees stating at the time that the 2024 extension would be the final one.

They had set a Sept. 30, 2025 deadline for the streetery’s demolition or removal and restoration of the area.

The streetery is located on the pavement of Vernon Avenue — in the public right-of-way, taking up four parking spaces. It provides seating for more than 60 diners, is climate controlled and contain removable side panels for use year-round.

Trustees’ concerns

While Village President Howard Roin and the five present trustees all stated their support for Guildhall the restaurant, they did not support the streetery, with Roin noting that it was always meant to be a temporary structure.

Trustee Hillary Scott said she spent much of the past week speaking with Guildhall’s neighboring business owners to get their thoughts on the streetery, and while all of them were supportive of the restaurant, “the overwhelming majority expressed the hope that the streetery will go.”

“The streetery sits on public land,” she said. “The use of the public right of way is a unique privilege and one that must be granted judiciously and sparingly.

“The Village of Glencoe is not a landlord. We don’t do this and, in fact, we cannot do this for others, and that creates a real equity issue, especially for neighboring business owners, and I heard that a lot over the course of the last week.”

Scott said even the streetery’s supporters she spoke with acknowledged “significant problems with its placement on the public right of way.”

Trustee Georgia Mihalopoulos said that its location one of her concerns, with another being the design itself.

“Had we known it was going to be here for five years, that’s not what we would approve,” she said, adding that the streetery probably would have gone through different reviews of its appearance.

She and other trustees both said they believe the Village could look at temporary options in the future.

Trustee Gary Ruben said the board faced a “very difficult” decision.

“We’re trying to both ferret out what people think about this … and at the same time, take that as part of the information to think about what’s best for Glencoe in the long run,” he said.

He said “moral fairness” surrounding the streetery, and the fact that others who ask for a similar structure might be denied, was another issue he had with the structure.

“I certainly don’t think the long-term success of (Guildhall) is in jeopardy,” he said. “But I also agree with what has been said by pretty much everybody here on the board and by our village president. I just don’t think a permanent structure on public property is appropriate.”

The public’s thoughts

Trustees heard a mix of commentary from members of the public, with around 15 voicing support for the streetery and eight opposing it.

Gerry Muldoon, Guildhall’s business manager, read a prepared statement from owners Alec and Jennifer Litowitz, who could not attend the Village Board meeting.

In their letter, the Litowitzes wrote that the streetery has been popular among their guests.

“Time after time, we have heard from our guests how much they truly want to enjoy the unique outdoor quality of the streetery, not only for day-to-day dining, but for celebrating special occasions,” the letter states. “We have come to learn how important the streetery has become as a place of gathering in our community, and it’s a valuable attraction to those who visit from outside our community.”

In response to questions regarding what changed since the final extension, the Litowitzes wrote that, in part, it was the public support, but also the fact that the Village’s ongoing streetscape study has not been completed, and no outdoor dining guidelines are in place.

“It seems premature to remove the successful project without having (an) alternative to have as a replacement,” they wrote.

Melissa Ackerman and Laura Bromwich each started petitions to support the streetery. Ackerman said the staff at Guildhall feels like family to her.

“We worry about what closing the streetery would mean for them, because they depend on steady work throughout the year,” she said. “The streetery also benefits our entire community.”

Bromwich agreed.

“Families gather here; neighbors see one another,” she said. “I’m sure outdoor seating brings more people in the community together.”

On the opposite end, Barbara Miller said that while she enjoys dining at Guildhall, she does not support the streetery.

Among her reasons were the appearance of favoritism, since Guildhall is the only business in Glencoe with such a structure, and traffic safety concerns.

“It does squeeze the street, so it’s harder for cars to move by at that bottleneck. That slows traffic down,” she said. “Also, when there’s less room, less visibility, the risk of accidents increases.”

Speaking on behalf of the Village’s Preservation Commission, Chair Peter Van Vechten said a majority of his fellow commissioners, including himself, believe the streetery negatively impacts the appearance of the business district.

Sharing his own personal views, Van Vechten said, “The character and sense of place in the business district is highly valued by the residents of this Village. … This particular element is very out of place in the area. It privatizes public space and it’s not respectful to the character of this place.”

At the end of the discussion, Village Manager Phil Kiraly said he and his staff would work with Guildhall on determining a proper final date for the streetery, while also saying they would begin working on an ordinance regarding seasonal structures, to be done in conjunction with the ongoing streetscape study.

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