Opening of new restaurant dependent upon liquor license

The proposed restaurant would compare with local upscale dining.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- Two Salem residents plan to open a restaurant downtown at a cost of nearly $1 million -- if they can get a liquor license.
Chester Hunter and Michael Blake told council Tuesday that they want to open the restaurant at 645 E. State St. The red-brick building is a former hardware store.
Hunter told council that state can transfer an unused license from another jurisdiction for economic development projects. All of Salem's liquor licenses are allocated.
Council voted unanimously to ask the state for a D-5 liquor license. Blake said he is not sure which jurisdiction in the state would lose a license.
The proposed fine dining facility would open about 1 p.m. and would seat about 80 people for lunch and dinner. Blake said the license would allow the restaurant to be open until 1 a.m.
The men said it might compare to the Spread Eagle Tavern in Hanoverton or the Springfield Grille in Boardman.
The request to the state was made in the name of the Lucky Restaurant Group, though the name of the restaurant hasn't been chosen.
"That's still in the works," Blake said.
The men said they hope to bring in a professional chef and culinary instructor currently working in Los Angeles.
The restaurant is allowed under the existing zoning, and the building is up to code, according to the developers.
If the license can be obtained, the men expect to start operations next spring.
Other business
In other action, council named Steven Andres to be its member on the five-member Quaker Community Fire District.
Council and the Perry Township Trustees agreed to abolish their fire departments and form the fire district. But voters replaced the three at-large council members and the president, who are Republicans, with Democrats in the November election.
Andres is a Democrat, as are two other council members. But Andres has indicated that he doesn't expect council to drop the fire district.
Council allowed a multi-year contract to go into effect with the fire department while forming the district. The city firemen say they are awaiting a ruling from the State Employment Relations Board on which is agreement is binding.
A judge has also blocked the district from becoming operational.
wilkinson@vindy.com