Highland Liquors Cleared for Video Gaming Expansion Following Zoning Approval

Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | May 5, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, approved a Special Use Permit for LMD Liquor LLC to operate a bar/tavern at its existing Highland Liquors location. The approval allows the owner to partitioned a 338-square-foot area for six video gaming terminals, a move previously delayed by conflicting county liquor regulations.

Highland Liquors Key Points:

• Address: 1619 E. Cass Street, Joliet, in Joliet Township.

• Business Model: The site will continue to operate as a packaged liquor store but will add a partitioned gaming room and fast-food service.

• Community Concerns: Nearby residents raised objections regarding potential “power drinking,” traffic safety, and the impact on local children.

• Result: Approved unanimously with three conditions, including a requirement to maintain a valid liquor license under Chapter 110 of the Will County Code.

JOLIET — LMD Liquor LLC won a decisive victory on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, as the Will County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for a bar/tavern designation that will allow the longtime Joliet business to host video gaming.

The case (ZC-26-027) was a “cleanup” of a request that was withdrawn in 2025. Attorney Nate Washburn, representing owner Lajja Desai, explained that the county’s Liquor Commission has recently updated its policies to allow such establishments to operate with partitioned spaces. Under the approved plan, a 338-square-foot section of the 7,057-square-foot building will be walled off to create a “gaming parlor” with six terminals and a separate address.

Resident Outcry over Safety
The proposal met resistance from neighbors in the Ridgewood area. Resident Andrew Smith voiced concerns over the increase in patrons staying on-site. “You’re going from a business that bags up an item and sends the customer on their way to a business that offers open alcohol and gambling,” Smith said. “Nothing good happens on these streets after 10 p.m.”

Danielle Gorman, who lives on Cass Street, expressed fear that patrons would “power drink” for 20 to 30 minutes before returning to the road. “I have to wait for state police to come when we call 911,” she noted.

Washburn countered that the average stay for a gaming customer is less than 20 minutes and that alcohol sales in such venues are typically “de minimis.” He offered a concession to limit alcohol consumption exclusively to the 338-square-foot gaming area to prevent patrons from carrying open containers through the retail liquor aisles.

The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval, contingent upon the establishment receiving its state and county gaming licenses.