Third Suitor Reveals Plans for Mill Tavern

trustees heard a third proposal for the vacant Mill Tavern on Wednesday, this one from a trio of village residents hoping to bring back a downtown pub they’ve treasured for years. 

At Wednesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Jeffrey Thomas revealed his idea to re-open the Mill, which has been since June, following the death of longtime owner in May. Thomas, who teaches school in Batavia, plans to team up with his brother, Jaxon Stone, and Jaxon's wife Raven, both of whom have been in the restaurant management industry for 11 years.

Thomas said the trio wants to run the Mill as a sports bar, with televisions on the walls and a menu of tavern-style food. He said the goal is to create a family-friendly destination downtown—in his words, “A place I would want to go to take my kids and watch the Super Bowl.

He said the Mill has been a staple downtown for as long as he could remember—Sutcliff ran it for 53 years—and the trio was excited by the possibility of opening a restaurant in their home town.

The group is requesting a liquor license from the village, and according to Village Attorney Steve Andersson, the board can tailor the license to suit their needs. Thomas said he would not be able to guarantee that 50 percent of the tavern’s proceeds would come from food sales—the group is projecting about 25 percent—and Andersson said the board could devise a tavern liquor license that allows that.

Thomas is the third to step forward with a plan for the Mill Tavern. Last month, Montgomery couple Jose and Michelle Velazquez to re-open the tavern and potentially start a pool league there, and Wurst Kitchen owner Ed Schleining , which involves building a new kitchen, and potentially tearing down the old building and erecting a new one.

While the board has agreed to let all three liquor license applications move forward (and Jose Velazquez has already passed his background check, according to Police Chief Dan Meyers), the decision will lie with the Sutcliff family, who are currently negotiating the sale of the building.

“We have heard three proposals. It’s logical to find out who has the contract, and then move forward,” said Andersson.

Thomas said his group has submitted an offer, with a contract contingent on receiving a liquor license. And Meyers said Schleining has already submitted an offer and a counter-offer to the family.

Trustees were impressed with Thomas’ proposal, with Trustee Matt Brolley calling it exactly what he believes that corner needs. Trustees have consistently said they would prefer to see some food service at the Mill, and Brolley praised Thomas for gearing his plans to families.

For Thomas and the Stones, reopening the Mill is a chance to help revitalize the downtown.

“We want to see downtown Montgomery become what it could be,” Thomas said. “We’d rather spend money here than in Naperville.”