Willett’s Winery expansion faces a final regulation

PEKIN, Ill. — The dream of the late Dan Willett of adding banquet space between his restaurant and winery must clear one last hurdle tonight as the Village of Manito must decide whether to grant a variance allowing Dan’s wife to increase capacity without adding off-street parking.

Village Clerk Lee Lacey confirmed there is “a business” that complained about the expansion to Willett’s Winery and Cellar, prompting the village to have to hold a hearing to decide whether to grant the variance. According to Cris Willett, who has fronted the efforts to complete the expansion since her husband’s recent death, the concern seems to be about an old, obscure ordinance that mandates a business must create off-street parking to accommodate an increase in capacity.

A nearby property owner voiced his disapproval of the Willett’s plan at the most recent village board meeting. He said he was concerned that an increased capacity for Willett’s could mean a shortage of parking for nearby homeowners and businesses.

Willett, however, said she is certain she has the support of most of the community because her intent is to bring more business and spending into the village for which she and her husband have advocated for years.

According to Willett, she hopes what comes out of the 6:30 p.m. meeting will be a decision by village officials to reconsider the ordinance that she believes only hurts downtown business growth because it would result in downtown parking lots marring the visual appeal. She said the issue has sparked discussion among local business owners about what the ordinance means for individual business growth.

“Is this what we want?” Willett asked. “Do we want every business in downtown to have to have off-street parking? Most downtowns don’t want parking lots in their downtown where there should be storefronts. I hope it makes (village officials) ask, ‘Is this what’s going to support growth?’”

Willett said she is working on a deadline now and is staying positive about the expansion and the effort it will take, as she intends to have the new space at least usable for her daughter’s wedding in May. She said expansion by any business in Manito is a positive thing for the village, and most of the business owners she has talked to agree that Willett’s Winery and Cellar and the restaurant, the Ironstone Room, have brought in visitors to the village who also utilize other local businesses while in Manito.

According to the ordinance — which Willett said she never knew about until the issue was brought up by a business owner she did not wish to identify — no business could expand its space without creating room for off-street parking.

“All of the businesses that I talked to are in support of our expansion,” Willett said. “I think that they have seen the positive things that our business and growth have provided for Manito. I’m committed and I will work with the village just to look at those ordinances. That’s all we ever wanted was to encourage business in Manito.”

According to the Ironstone Room’s Chef Kevin, the new space should be able to hold 120 to 160 people, depending on the type of event. He said the construction and electricity for the building are slated to be done by local contractors.