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Evanston aldermen back eatery for Howard Street
Updated: April 22, 2013 11:29AM
EVANSTON — City Council members gave approval Monday night for another eatery bar-restaurant heading for a suddenly reinvigorated Howard Street.
They approved a proposal authorizing the city manager to negotiate a rent-to-own lease with Peckish One, a restaurant looking to run a restaurant with a brewery at city-purchased property at 623-627 and a half Howard Street.
The move follows in the footsteps of Ward Eight, a cocktail bar, and Leonie’s Delice, a French-Italian bakery – ventures that are creating “a set of new commercial opportunities for Howard Street,” city staff said in a memo.
The owners of Peckish – a British adjective used to describe being “somewhat hungry” – are Debbie and Jamie Evans, who were formerly associated with Celtic Knot and Tommy Nevin’s Pub, both successful restaurants and bars in Evanston.
They are seeking to create an American-style bar/restaurant that will include a small beer brewery.
Under the agreement with the city, the owners will have the ability to purchase the property after four years of a five year lease.
The city has pledged to make $200,000 in basic improvements to the property, drawing on future revenue generated in the Howard-Ridge Tax Increment Finance District.
Alderman Don Wilson was the lone council member to vote against the funding allocation, though he did support the lease arrangement.
During the citizen comment portion of the meeting, resident Jeannie Sanke urged approval.
With Ward Eight, and now Peckish, the Howard Street district “has gone from a commercial district with little to offer,” to a neighborhood destination.
“We have the coolest neighborhood bar on our street,’’ she said. “When Peckish opens you will be doing so much more to revitalize that part of town,’’ she told aldermen.~.
