Diners enjoy mimosas as South Holland tests liquor sales

Two months after South Holland issued its first liquor license, diners at Blueberry Field Pancake House & Restaurant say having a Sunday morning mimosa improves the dining experience while staff, aware of the town’s concerns, says alcohol is a small but positive change.

“I like to see happy faces,” said the restaurant’s owner Patte Haras. “Now, we are making this place better and updating the village.”

Since South Holland was incorporated in 1847, the town has done things differently, in large part because of its deep roots in faith. For much of the town’s history, all businesses in the town closed on Sunday. And until August, not a single drop of alcohol could be legally purchased within city limits.

But as more and more restaurants have inquired about coming into the community, only to be turned off when learning about the alcohol ban, the Mayor Don De Graff said officials decided to make some modest changes.

“We are being very judicious on how we approach this because we want to make sure that whatever we do is appealing to residents and guests,” he said.

Village leaders selected popular breakfast spot and family owned business Blueberry Field as the guinea pig for some alcohol sales in South Holland.

“We still want to hang on to the faith and family motto of South Holland,” said Patte’s daughter, Nikki Haras, who manages the restaurant along with relative Nikos Dimitrakopoulos.

That means no alcohol before 11 a.m., no more than four drinks per person at Blueberry Field and only mimosas. No hard liquor.

Interspersed throughout the dining room at Blueberry Field are brightly colored drinks with wedges of fresh fruit on top of the glass; a telltale sign of one of Dimitrakopoulos’ famous concoctions.

One Sunday diner, Anna Comer, of South Holland, sipped past a large slice of canned peach, remarking it was her first time trying a peach mimosa.

“I normally would go to Grady’s in Homewood because they serve mimosas,” Anna Comer said. “If I am feeling festive, more of a brunch vibe, I want mimosas. But today I was like, I don’t have to drive all the way to Grady’s.”

Comer said Dimitrakopoulos’ recipe is better than Grady’s.

In the back, Dimitrakopoulos pours the drinks by hand. When they are finished with their remodel, Blueberry Field will have an exposed bar set up. But for now, Dimitrakopoulos does his work in the kitchen, eyeballing the right proportions of J. Rogét Brut Champagne and fruit juice.

Marcus St. Charles, of Calumet City, and Ana Tovar, of West Chicago, dined together. Sunday was their second time at Blueberry Field. Their return was in part because they were intrigued when they learned the restaurant now serves alcohol.

“They didn’t have them last time,” St. Charles said as he sipped at a strawberry mimosa. “It’s definitely a plus now. There aren’t so many places in the area that are doing it. Whenever I have brunch, I’m always looking for a mimosa.”

Tovar agreed mimosas improve the experience. But it’s not the star of the show.

“It is really good food,” she said. “So it’s like a plus on the mimosas.”

The move to allow alcohol in South Holland began in earnest in 2018, De Graff explained. That’s when a developer wanted to build a large dining facility that served beer and wine. But when COVID-19 hit and development stopped, the project was halted and discussions ceased.

That’s when Blueberry Field expressed interest. They decided they wanted to conduct a large remodel of their space to allow for banquets and catering, but wanted to offer drinks to help boost revenue, the Haras family said.

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“If you do like a dinner time or a party event, you have to have a little wine,” said Dimitrakopoulos.

Dimitrakopoulos said alcohol has improved revenue for the business. But according to his discussions with guests, only 10% of customers are new customers who stop by for the drinks.

Tim Lapp, village attorney, confirmed that as of Oct. 3, no one else has even requested a license. But as South Holland dips its toe into a post-dry reality, some residents are concerned about the possibility of there being a “slippery slope.”

Byron Stanley commented on a post from South Holland’s Facebook page in which changes to the alcohol rules was announced.

“As a resident, I’m open to alcohol being served in limited capacities around town, but hope to never see a liquor store open in the village,” he wrote.

De Graff and the town leadership has made clear that they will not allow liquor stores.

“The whole ordinance is crafted in the context of wanting to have higher quality restaurants where people can eat and have a beverage with their food,” he said.