BYOB in Chicagoland - How We Got Here/ Potential Changes

NPR's local member station WBEZ did a recent segment discussing the prevalence of BYOB restaurants in Chicagoland.

I have noted that the BYO phenomenon never seemed as robust in other cities I visited, so it was interesting to hear a discussion about why.

The piece basically cites bureaucracy as the main reason for this phenomenon. Getting a liquor license is difficult and time-consuming so many restaurants take a while to do it or never bother. And any restaurant without a license can choose whether or not to allow alcohol on the premises if they do not sell any. So a culture developed where many restaurants choose to do so - including a number of board favorites.

In a follow-up, the same reporter noted that while a number of city publications stated it was illegal for a restaurant to charge a corkage fee without a liquor license, that practice actually changed some years ago and is no longer law. That means that BYO restaurants can legally charge corkage (which many choose to do). The report speculates that some restaurants that do not currently charge a corkage may choose to do so now that this has been clarified, but I guess we'll wait and see.

Regardless, I think it is an interesting look on what seems to be a quirk in our local restaurant scene that is relatively unique nationwide.

gastro gnome wrote:I have noted that the BYO phenomenon never seemed as robust in other cities I visited, so it was interesting to hear a discussion about why.

So you're claiming BYO is more prevalent here than elsewhere? Interesting! I travel around the country a fair amount. The one place I've traveled that seems substantially different from Chicago in this regard is New Jersey, where BYO is much, much more predominant than here in Chicagoland.

nsxtasy wrote:

gastro gnome wrote:I have noted that the BYO phenomenon never seemed as robust in other cities I visited, so it was interesting to hear a discussion about why.

So you're claiming BYO is more prevalent here than elsewhere? Interesting! I travel around the country a fair amount. The one place I've traveled that seems substantially different from Chicago in this regard is New Jersey, where BYO is much, much more predominant than here in Chicagoland.

It has seemed that way to me, but I have not exactly been conducting a comprehensive census-level inquiry.

Interesting piece. Thanks, for the link.

=R=

Thanks for sharing. Add Sydney, Australia to the list of big BYO cities.

NJ has BYO seems for similar reasons to Chicago, Philly's is due to draconian state alcohol laws and proximity to NJ.

leek wrote:NJ has BYO seems for similar reasons to Chicago, Philly's is due to draconian state alcohol laws and proximity to NJ.

Agreed.

If anyone is looking for a good BYOB list for Chicago, I moderate one on the Wine Berserkers website, here.