Restaurant targeted for former Masonic temple on Irving Park Road; Ald. Arena schedules community meeting on proposal

by BRIAN NADIG

A former Masonic temple at 4240 W. Irving Park Road that in more recent years has been a church is be targeted for a new restaurant and brewery.

Alderman John Arena (45th) will hold a community meeting on the proposal at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, at the Irving Park Baptist Church, 4401 W. Irving Park Road. The site’s B3-1 zoning allows for a restaurant with a bar, but a “C” zoning designation for commercial uses is being sought to allow for the brewery operation.

The four-story building’s current occupant is the Korean Bethel Presbyterian Church. The property is for sale, and a church representative said that the church is searching for a new location.

Plans reportedly call for the brewery operation to be located in the basement and the restaurant on the first floor of the 23,000-square-foot building, with a banquet hall and offices on the upper floors. The site includes an approximately 35-space parking lot.

Arena has been working with state officials to resolve a potential roadblock for project officials.

The site is next to a church, the Harvest Christian Center, 4020 N. Tripp Ave., and under state law, a liquor license cannot be issued to an establishment located within 100 feet of a church. However, the state can waive that requirement if the church does not object to the proposed establishment.