🥘 Updates on Acquaviva, JT’s Tavern and Riverside Pizza in Batavia

Exciting things are happening in Batavia’s burgeoning bar/restaurant scene.

Shuttered locations. Grand openings. Licensing arguments. Let’s make sense of it all, shall we?

Tribella ➡️ Acquaviva Ristorante

On Friday, Mayor Schielke will be on hand to welcome Acquaviva Ristorante to its new location in the former home of Tribella Bar & Grill (where, incidentally, I enjoyed my first pre-homecoming dance dinner in 2004 dressed like a buffoon head to toe — may the photos never resurface).

The Brandonisio family, which also owns and operates Acquaviva Winery in Maple Park, purchased the building from the previous owners. It appears they’ve been working on preparing the space since late January, when they announced the relocation on their Facebook page.

With the new Emagine Theater across the street, did dinner-and-a-movie night in Batavia just get more interesting?

Full Moon ➡️ JT's Tavern and Tap

If the walls of the Full Moon could talk, they might tell you about rowdy crowds, late-night bar fights and similarly salacious stories unique to a rough-and-tumble dive with a checkered past.

But all that’s over now. New owners Bob and Jeremy Truex have been busy remodeling the space with plans to reopen it as JT’s Tavern and Tap in early November.

However, a recent committee debate nearly dashed those plans, as five Batavia aldermen opposed granting the new owners a video gambling license. The Truex duo narrowly escaped with a “yes” vote from the mayor, giving the resolution a positive recommendation that it will take to City Council.

Assuming it sails through council and opening plans go smoothly, Tri-Cities residents will soon have another downtown bar-and-grill option — one known for its chicken wings and Prohibition-era vibe.

More gambling permit drama

The City of Batavia recently announced a public hearing for November 1 regarding Riverside Pizza and Pub’s desire to expand into the former Bulldog Nutrition space to create an overflow party room.

Intended as both a rental and additional seating space, “Overflow” would include a bar, TVs, darts and — the primary point of contention — gambling machines.

The purpose of the upcoming public hearing is to consider a conditional use permit for “video gaming” at a proposed eating and drinking establishment. So, if you have strong feelings on the subject, get out there and make your voice heard!

Once the process has played out, City Council will eventually vote on the issue.

📰 News to use

The 🔒 icon indicates a potential paywall. The *️⃣ icon indicates that an account/login is needed.

🔒 All aboard: Metra’s proposed 2024 budget includes significant changes to their fare system to help the struggling rail operator adapt to the post-pandemic travel reality. Among the proposed changes:

• Downsizing from 10 zones to 4

• Flat $3.75 fee for rides outside of the downtown zone

• Digital 5-pack of day passes replacing current 10-day pass

• Monthly passes with new zone-based pricing

🔒 Financial dilemma: Although Kane County property taxes haven’t increased in 13 years, government worker salaries have failed to remain competitive. Will a tax hike help the county retain talent?

☑️ Local legend: A beloved figure with enduring popularity, Chicagoland weatherman and Aurora native Tom Skilling cemented a warm place in many of our daily lives over the decades. He’ll retire in 2024.

🔒 School (work): With ambitious construction/remodeling projects planned for St. Charles schools, the School Board voted to issue $25M in long-term debt. A public BINA hearing is scheduled for 11/13.

☑️ Part of the process: Six ‘Rebuild Illinois’ infrastructure projects, from Elgin to Yorkville, will likely impact drivers from now through 2026. Get up to speed on upcoming work zones and lane closures.

☑️ Demolition plans: If you were hoping for Pheasant Run’s demolition to be an explosive spectacle, sorry to disappoint you. It’ll be coming down bit by bit.

*️⃣ Civic duty: Batavia’s Committee of the Whole recently discussed several topics, including proposed zoning amendments and lead water service line replacement efforts. Alderman Dustin Pieper summarized it nicely.

🎸 Live music

*Below are “listed” start/end times — actual play times tend to vary. The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee. Links to band/event info are provided where available.

Tuesday (10/17) ⬇️

🎟️ Get Your Kicks Tour ‘23: Arcada Theatre | St. Charles | 7PM | Event info

Wednesday (10/18) ⬇️

✔️ Matt Kopecky: 93 Octane Brewing | St. Charles | 6-9PM | Musician info

✔️ Dave Ramont: Preservation | Geneva | 6-9PM | Musician info

✔️ Matt Keen: Flagship on the Fox | St. Charles | 6-9PM | Musician info

🎟️ Mike Tramp - the Songs of White Lion: Arcada Theatre | St. Charles | 7:30PM | Event info 

Thursday (10/19) ⬇️

✔️ Brian Allison: Flagship on the Fox | St. Charles | 4-7PM | Musician info

✔️ Jake Mack: Preservation | Geneva | 6-9PM | Event info + video

✔️ Sam Wyatt: Pollyanna Brewing | St. Charles | 7-11PM | Musician info

🎟️ Jazz Cabaret w/Tatum Langley + Shout Section Combo: Moonlight Theatre | St. Charles | 7-9PM | Event info 

✔️ Stan Karcz: ROX at Hotel Baker | St. Charles | 7:30-11PM | Musician info

🎟️ Harry Chapin at 80 - a Retrospective: Arcada Theatre | St. Charles | 7:30PM | Event info 

✔️ Ben Crooch: The House Pub | St. Charles | 9PM-12AM | Musician info

🏘️ In the community

🔒 Top of her class: Hard work and great technique has paid off for Sara Consdorf, the family and consumer sciences teacher at Geneva High School who just won ILAFCS Teacher of the Year.

☑️ Now more inclusive: In response to a study that found deficiencies, several Batavia parking spaces have been converted into ADA-accessible spots. Here’s a summary of those locations.

🔒 Taking flight: Burnt and broken, Icarus the red-tailed hawk was in bad shape. But thanks to a kind truck driver and KARE in St. Charles, the spirited raptor is flying freely once again.

☑️ Campus improvements: If you’ve noticed construction near Mooseheart on Randall Road, it’s not a road being built — it’s part of Mooseheart’s sanitary sewer extension project.

🎈 Special events

☑️ Batavia Marching Band: The award-winning student group is doing a rendition of “The Crow” during a Community Performance TONIGHT at 8PM in Bulldog Stadium.

☑️ Boo Bash: Throw costumes on the kids and bring ‘em to trend + relic in St. Charles for spooky fun, Halloween treats and a free professional photo shoot on Wednesday from 2-7PM.

☑️ Punkin’ paintin’: Give the kiddos a chance to decorate pumpkins, play games, win prizes and enjoy some crispy Atlas Chicken at Preservation in Geneva on Wednesday at 5:30PM or Saturday at 11AM.

☑️ Walking Beer Tour: Taste rare samples while you soak in local knowledge and history during a personal guided tour of downtown Geneva led by a certified beer expert on Thursday at 4PM.

🏬 Local biz

☑️ Bagels, anyone? If you’re a fan of Geneva’s Bad Guy Bagels delivery shop, you’ll be pleased to learn that they’re getting closer to opening up a physical location at 501 East State St.

☑️ Smoothie, anyone? Geneva welcomed Nékter Juice Bar to town with a Grand Opening party yesterday. Nice to see a healthy-food option help balance out the offerings on the Randall Road strip.

☑️ Brewski, anyone? Alter Brewing teamed up with Morton Salt to launch Pure Joy, a limited-edition hazy beer that will be available at its St. Charles location.

☀️ Weather snapshot

• Today: High 56F | Low 37F | Brisk + a risk of rain

• Tuesday: High 59F | Low 42F | Get outside if you can

• Wednesday: High 65F | Low 50F | An ideal fall day

• Thursday: High 58F | Low 47F | The rain returns 😠

📱 Follow TCC

We’re on Facebook and Instagram.

What’d you think of this issue?

🔥 Loved it, keep up the good work [this]

😐 Decent, like the Bears defense yesterday [this]

🛑 3 minutes I’ll never get back [this]

📖 Thanks for reading

If you have any questions, feedback, tips or suggestions, don’t hesitate to reply to this email — I respond to all replies. Same goes if you’d like to explore newsletter sponsorships or working together in any other way.

Cheers,

Sam 

P.S. If you enjoy Tri-Cities Central, please refer others and/or leave a review! We grow primarily through word of mouth.