CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Waive the first reading and pass the ordinance amending Section 3-3-11 of the Naperville Municipal Code pertaining to the Class M-Recreational or Lifestyle Amenities Facility cap by increasing the number of recreational facility liquor licenses available by two (requires six positive votes)
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DEPARTMENT: Legal Department
SUBMITTED BY: Jennifer Bonner, Senior Assistant City Attorney
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
On February 5, 2026, the Liquor Commission unanimously approved the proposed amendment.
BACKGROUND:
The Class M liquor license (“M License”) permits the retail sale and service of alcoholic liquor at recreational and lifestyle amenities facilities. Recreational facilities include art studios, indoor sports facilities, golf courses, bowling alleys, and billiards establishments with at least ten regulation billiard tables, while lifestyle amenities facilities include beauty shops, hair salons, spas, and personal cosmetic establishments. To ensure that alcohol sales remain incidental to the primary business activity, the M License has several requirements, including:
• At least 60 percent of a recreational facility’s annual revenue, or 90 percent of a lifestyle amenities facility’s annual revenue, must be derived from sources other than the sale of alcoholic liquor.
• Alcoholic liquor may only be sold as a complement to a paid lifestyle amenities service or when the recreational portion of the premises is open and available for use.
• An annual license fee of $2,200 applies to recreational facilities, with a cap of thirteen licenses citywide.
• An annual license fee of $500 applies to lifestyle amenities facilities, with a cap of five licenses citywide.
DISCUSSION:
Taste Buds Kitchen, located at 620 N. River Road, Unit 108, is a culinary-themed recreational facility offering cooking classes, summer camps, birthday parties, and corporate events for children, families, and adults. The concept functions much like an art studio but uses food as the creative medium rather than paint. The business operates as a children’s kitchen during the day and transitions to adult programming in the evening.
Taste Buds Kitchen seeks an increase in the M license recreational cap to allow the service of beer and wine during adult classes, where beer and wine would be sold as part of the class package. Adult classes are regularly scheduled Monday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Clarify Kitchen, located at 1701 Quincy Avenue, Suite 20, opened on February 4, 2026, and offers unique and specialized cooking classes designed to provide an interactive culinary experience. The business focuses on hands-on instruction, including charcuterie board and cheese-tray assembly workshops, adult cooking classes, and children’s camp programming. As part of its adult-focused experiences, Clarify Kitchen is seeking an increase in the Class M recreational license cap to allow the sales and service of wine as a component of its culinary programming.
Under the City’s Municipal Code, City Council approval is required to increase the cap on the M license. The City Council may elect to increase the license cap for one, both, or neither business. If a cap increase is approved, Taste Buds Kitchen and/or Clarify Kitchen must still apply for a license and meet all requirements of the City’s Municipal Code. After reviewing both concepts, the Liquor Commission unanimously approved each request.
Draft minutes from the February 5, 2026 Liquor Commission meeting are attached.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Corresponding increase in liquor license fees and sales tax relating to sale of alcoholic beverages.