Live Music Approved for South Main Restaurant

The Vine will be the first restaurant on South Main Street to serve alcohol to offer live music.

The St. Charles City Council on Tuesday approved the restaurant's application for a permit to have live music. Live music was previously banned on part of South Main Street for restaurants and bars that served alcohol. The city changed that law in 2012. 

The Vine owner, Michael Gatto, said as soon as the weather is nice, they plan to have soft acoustic guitar music. Gatto said having live music will help them expand their business to offer wedding receptions. 

"It's going to be fun to find out and see what works best," he said. 

Three neighbors submitted letters of concern to the city's Planning and Zoning Commission about The Vine's application. Gryf Ketcherside, who lives on the 400 block of South Second Street, requested the council require the music to be inside the restaurant only. 

"We would like to see businesses on Main Street held to the same guidelines that govern us as residents; for example, if a private citizen plays music outside his/her home that can be heard throughout the neighborhood, other residents would be fully entitled to report that citizen for disturbance of the peace," Ketcherside wrote.

Royce Schierding, who owns the building next door to The Vine at 337 South Main Street, wrote he's concerned about the noise levels from the new arrangement. 

"If one is not a customer at the restaurant, it's not music but noise pollution," he wrote. 

See what St. Charles Patch readers thought about this issue here.

Gatto said he intends to reach out to the people who have concerns and try to alleviate their fears. 

"If we hear any complaints, we'll try to address those concerns," he said, adding that he understands people were concerned about South Main turning into an entertainment district like North Main Street. "I don't think with the hours we'll attract that. It's not a nightclub atmosphere."

The Vine plans to limit live music between noon and 8 p.m.