Gnarly J's Struggles to Land Liquor License, Fears Closing

Downers Grove indoor sand-volleyball center Gnarly J's has run into a major roadblock in its effort to secure a liquor license, without which owners say they may have to leave the property by July, the Chicago Tribune reports.

According to the paper, the Village Council removed several categories of liquor permits from the books in September 2012, which has left Gnarly J's without a viable option for acquiring a license without a lengthy alternate application and petition progress.

"You're going to have to show us a full-blown, trigger-pulled scenario, because we can't define an ordinance for you if we don't know what you are," the paper quoted Liquor Commission chair Alice Strelau telling the owners. "You're going to have to show us what you want to be, how you're going to get there and how you get the funding to make it happen."

But owners said that the terms of their lease will force them to vacate if they don't have the license by July, the paper said.

Read the full story at the Chicago Tribune website.