'Asset to our city': New Peoria restaurant one step closer to securing a liquor license

A recently opened Peoria restaurant is working to secure a liquor license this month.

Pop-Up Chicken Shop, which also features The Love Shack, went before the Peoria Liquor Commission on July 1. The establishment − located at 800 SW Adams St. Suite 106, Peoria − opened without alcohol on June 25.

The liquor commission voted 5-0 to recommend approval for the application. The liquor license request will now go before the Peoria City Council during its July 23 meeting.

Owner Aaron Francis attended the commission with Richard Marvel, a Bloomington attorney who is representing him. In Bloomington, Marvel said “alcohol sales are right around 10% or less" of the total sales.

Francis also offered a brief description of the business and shared how long it has been in operation. Commissioner Paul Winkler noted that he has visited Pop-Up Chicken Shop in Bloomington on several occasions − including when it operated out of a VFW hall. He said, "it's a very nice establishment."

During public comments, Peoria businessman Andrew Driscoll noted that Francis "is an example that we want to see in our culinary industry here in Peoria." He said when Francis first began looking to bring his operation to Peoria, he "was not exactly met with rolling out the red carpet by the city."

But Driscoll continued, "and what I'm excited and pleased to see here is, at least the tone that I'm seeing in this room is very different – in recognizing that this person, this business, is a huge asset to our city. And I for one − as a downtown business owner, a property owner and a liquor license holder − am excited about what’s to come with Pop-Up Chicken and Love Shack concepts."

Also expected at July 23 City Council:Peoria business deals with another setback in quest for a liquor license