Voters overturn 117-year-old booze ban in three-block zone of Lincoln Square

CHICAGO — Voters in a three-block area of the city's Lincoln Square neighborhood on Tuesday supported the repeal of a prohibition on alcohol sales that's been in place for more than 115 years.

An overwhelming majority of the few hundred voters — 85 percent — voted 'no' on a question on whether to keep the ban on booze in the area near Welles Park.

The pocket is bordered by Montrose Avenue to the south, Sunnyside Avenue to the north, Lincoln Avenue to the east, and Damen Avenue to the west. It first went dry in 1907, had the ban extended by the Illinois Liquor Control Act of 1934 , and has been an alcohol-free zone ever since.

Election Results: November 2024 General Election

Lucia Herrejon, owner of XOchimilco Mexican Restaurant, pushed for repeal of the prohibition after an application for a liquor license in June 2023 was denied.

"Every thing went well. We had inspectors come out ... We found out that day this was boarded dry in 1907," she told WGN last month .

The effort also had the support of Ald. Matt Martin (47th Ward) and Small Cheval, a prominent burger chain with more than a half-dozen locations throughout Chicagoland with a new location set to open within the dry zone.

Applications for liquor sales in the area can be submitted now, but the statute says that no license can be issued until 30 days after the election, which is December 5.