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BERWYN – Concerned about the expanding number of video gaming cafes in Berwyn, aldermen are capping the number of cafes allowed in the city and requiring any other businesses with a liquor license to be open at least one year before applying for a city gaming license.
On April 26, the Berwyn City Council unanimously approved capping the number of video gaming cafes at 15 – which includes the current six, another eight that are approved but waiting for construction to open and a final slot for which two businesses are contending, said Anthony Perri, Berwyn's licensing supervisor.
Berwyn has 48 businesses – the six current cafes, along with restaurants, bars and fraternal or veterans organizations – with 195 gaming terminals, said Perri, adding state law limits each location to five terminals.
Mayor Robert Lovero and aldermen have been hearing from residents who are concerned with the amount of video gaming and the associated signage, said Ruth Volbre, assistant city administrator.
“It was important to the mayor and aldermen to pass this ordinance as soon as possible to keep the number of video cafes from expanding,” she said.
While video gaming has brought in significant revenue to the city, it is important to set up limits and rules regarding this new business, Lovero said in an April 28 letter to residents that is on Berwyn’s website. He cited 8th Ward Alderwoman Nora Laureto as among the City Council members looking for caps on cafes and other regulations.
“I was not happy to see the cafes starting to pop up and brought it to the mayor’s attention months ago," Laureto said. "I think that I have the most video gaming cafes of any of the wards right now.”
Three cafes are on Roosevelt Road in her ward, Perri said. A fourth is pending at Home Avenue and Roosevelt Road, Laureto said.
In February, city staff and the Berwyn Development Corporation began researching video gaming ordinances and tendencies, Lovero said.
At the April 12 City Council meeting, 6th Ward Alderman Ted Polashek also suggested creating a video gaming ordinance but was told one already was a priority for the administration, the mayor said.
Polashek said he did not know the city was working on a video gaming ordinance, but he is happy the city has an ordinance now.
He said no gaming establishments are currently in his ward, but he became aware of more and more cafes being approved in the city.
Laureto said some of her residents questioned the amount of gaming cafes, but none complained. More people complained about the signage than the cafes themselves, she said.
“I also discussed it with many of my businesses on Roosevelt Road," Laureto said. "I do not want to change the vision I had for Roosevelt and felt that too many of these establishments would.”
She described her vision of Roosevelt Road as a "music/restaurant/art destination."
The city on April 26 also required any establishment with a liquor license, except video gaming cafes, to be established for at least one year before applying for the video gaming license.
This was done to make sure these other businesses are not strictly opening for gaming purposes, Lovero said.
Berwyn will continue to monitor video gaming and will make changes to the ordinance as necessary, he said.
Laureto said she is looking forward to the new sign ordinance that is being looked into at this time.
“I think that this will help all around," she said.
Volbre said for the last year, Berwyn has been working with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning on revising sign regulations and hopes to have an ordinance ready by the end of summer. Video gaming cafes would have to comply with that ordinance, she said.
“It’s about how it is visually appealing. We want to keep the business districts looking nice,” Volbre added.
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Existing video gaming cafes in Berwyn
Presto Cafe, 3240 Oak Park Ave.
Sonny's Slots, 6721 W. 26th St.
Dotty's, 6635 Roosevelt Road
Betty's, 6969 Ogden Ave.
Vinny's Cafe, 7005 Roosevelt Road
The Winning Circle Cafe, 6909 Roosevelt Road
(Information courtesy of Anthony Perri, Berwyn's licensing supervisor)
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Approved video gaming cafes that will open in Berwyn
Shelby's, Roosevelt Road
Diamond's, Cermak Road
Lacey's, Cermak Road
Lacey's, Ogden Avenue
Olivia's, Harlem Avenue
Windsor Cafe, Windsor Avenue
Vinny's No. 2, Windsor Avenue
House of Slots, Stanley Avenue
(Information courtesy of Anthony Perri, Berwyn's licensing supervisor)