Fuller's Tap Opening Pushed Back

The downtown sports bar many Hinsdale residents are excited about likely won't be opening this fall as originally predicted. 

Doug Fuller told the Hinsdale Plan Commission Wednesday night that Fuller's Tap & Grill, which will take over the southernmost portion of Fuller's Home & Hardware along 1st Street, will likely open around year's end. 

"We were shooting for November, but it's probably going to take a little longer," Fuller said. 

His business partner Jim Carlstrom said, "Right around the end of the year."

Originally, Fuller had said he hoped to open in time for the start of the Chicago Bears football season, which began last weekend. That timeline was adjusted and a November opening was being planned.

Fuller and Carlstrom were before the plan commission Tuesday night for a vote on the restaurant's site plan and exterior appearance, which were approved unanimously.

Those items will be sent on to the Hinsdale Board of Trustees' Zoning and Public Safety (ZPS) Committee for a recommendation before the entire board of trustees takes a final vote. 

Aside from board approval on the site plan and exterior appearance, Fuller's still needs to obtain its liquor license, which may require some board of trustees discussion, and a building permit from the village.

Before that building permit is obtained, Fuller and Carlstrom need to get the restaurant plan approved by Flagg Creek Water Reclamation District and the DuPage County Department of Health, Hinsdale director of economic development Tim Scott said. 

"We ultimately issue permits and occupancy based on those two approvals," Scott said. 

Taking into consideration these remaining steps, Scott said, an opening around Jan. 1 is indeed realistic in terms of having the space properly permitted.

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