It wasn’t a smooth transition, but The Filling Station in Rochester is now open in the building that once housed The Alibi.
The property at 320 E. Main St. was a gas station years ago and Mark Clemens, a partner in the LLC that owns the building, decided to open a restaurant and bar with a nod to the building’s history. However, the most recent occupant was The Alibi, a restaurant and bar operated by Ben Suerdieck, who was evicted June 13 by a Sangamon County judge for failing to pay $9,075 in rent.
When Ben Suerdieck’s former landlord applied for a liquor license for his own business, it was denied. The decision was made by Village President Joe Suerdieck, who is also the municipality's liquor commissioner and the father of Ben. However, the Illinois Liquor Control Commission overturned that decision in November and Clemens was able to move forward with his plans.
Zac Geist is serving
as operating manager of The Filling Station. “I already knew Mark through J
& J Gaming, which is my full-time job. He reached out to me and didn’t want
to do the day-to-day operations, so that’s my role,” he said.
Only the bar is open for
now, but Geist said The Filling Station will begin offering food on Tuesday, Feb.
27.
“We make our own
pizzas and we have oven-roasted wings. We’ll have appetizers and sandwiches as
well,” said Giest. “We’ve already had to turn away a lot of people who are showing
up for the food; it’s just drinks for right now.”
Hours of operation
will be Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-12 a.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11
a.m.-1 a.m.
