Haz clic aquí para leer esto en español
When owner Lucia Herrejon decided the time was right to apply for a liquor license for XOchimilco Mexican Restaurant, she quickly realized it was going to take more than filling out an application and paying a fee to be allowed to serve Margaritas. It was going to take some political work, too — because unbeknownst to Herrejon ( who had been operating the restaurant as a BYO establishment for six years), XOchimilco sat in the very small but very consequential three-block-long district that had been “dry” since liquor was banned there in 1907. Restaurants across the street could sell liquor.
A referendum was the only way to change that. So, Herrejon rolled up her sleeves and got to work. She hired an attorney and collected signatures to get a question on the November 2024 ballot that would eliminate the ban and allow businesses in the district to sell liquor.
On Tuesday evening, November 5, Herrejon and everyone else who had worked to get the referendum passed were celebrating.
“It was a lot of hard work, knocking on doors,” she told Block Club Chicago. “We’re thrilled, excited and thankful all at once. This wouldn’t have happened without all the support from neighbors and the community we have out there.”
(el Restaurante Publisher Ed Avis and Editor Kathleen Furore are excited too; they have dined at XOchimilco pre-referendum and will be back to enjoy the results of the November 5 victory.)
Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to el Restaurante's digital publications for free by clicking here.