Will County Gazette

The Tinley Park Village Board discussed special requests from local businesses during their March 7 meeting.

The board was presented with a request from the Lucky Hot Dog for a Class D liquor license, as well as a request from Mr. Smoke Tobacco on 191st Street for a special use permit.

The Lucky Hot Dog, located at 8020 West 171st St., sells snacks and food such as hot dogs, shaved ice, popsicles, and cotton candy. Josh and Jen Hullett, the owners of the shop, said they want to obtain a basic liquor license so they can sell alcohol and bring in additional revenue to protect them against increased prices and wages, according to a video of the meeting posted to the board’s YouTube page.

The ability to sell alcohol could also help the Lucky Dog restore its pre-pandemic profits. Currently, the shop gets most of its business from food sales so there are no bar zoning restrictions preventing the issuance of the liquor license, according to the video.

Most of the board members favored granting the Lucky Hot Dog the license. Trustee Diane Galante, however, voiced opposition and shared concerns about the number of children who frequently visit the shop.

The Hulletts said they thought about serving liquor in minor ways, such as collaborating with local breweries and adding a shot of liquor to parents' shaved ice, which has been requested several times in the past. They also promised that alcohol would be a small aspect of the business and aimed at parents.

They also said the Lucky Hot Dog would remain kid-friendly as the establishment is a "family-owned business.”

Josh Hullett thanked the board and Tinley Park Mayor, Michael Glotz, for supporting small businesses.

"We were, at a time, looking at Frankfort, New Lennox, moving out of Tinley Park because there was no support whatsoever from the village," he said. "I’ve come here multiple times with multiple other mayors and talked to them, and they just pushed me to the side or didn’t even reply or sent one of the trustees to talk with me. I appreciate Mayor Glotz and his team. They actually take the time to talk to small businesses, actually come into our establishment and ask how we’re actually doing and ask if there’s anything they can do to help out. So I’m just saying, I’ve never seen a mayor and team like Mike Glotz ever. So, I’m staying in Tinley."

The board approved the Lucky Dog’s request for a liquor license. The board also approved Mr. Smoke's special use permit, which will allow the establishment to open a tobacco store at its location.