Cortland has issued the town’s first liquor license in 70 years.

DeKalb’s neighbors to the east now have the option of buying beer or wine at the Kelly Williamson Mobil gas station on the corner of Lincoln Highway and Somonauk Road.

The decision to authorize the license has been years in the making.

Four years after the repeal of prohibition in 1933, voters decided to keep the town “dry,” said Mayor Bob Seyller. Since then, the question of undoing that decision had been brought to the voters, but never passed.

“It wasn’t sure if the residents didn’t really want it, or if a few voted yes when they meant no,” Seyller said, explaining that the phrasing of the question may not have been clear.

Now, with a Class H liquor license issued to the Mobil station, it appears people have had their say.

Seyller hopes the impact of the change will create a domino-effect for the town’s economy, attracting franchise restaurants and, in turn, leading to shopping centers.

“The main idea is to generate taxes and bring more shopping opportunities so [Cortland residents] don’t have to go out of the area to spend,” Seyller said.

Liquor sales at the 24-hour gas station will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 10 p.m., as determined by the town board’s new liquor ordinance.

“We didn’t want to be the place of last call. We didn’t want people running to Cortland when everyone else was closed,” Seyller said of the time restraints.

At the Mobil station, a neon beer sign burns bright in the window and cautionary signs are pasted on the entrance and the four beer-laden cold-cases, advising that all customers will be carded regardless of appearance or repeat business.

“Whether you’re 70 or 25,” said Chris Navratil, assistant manager and one-year employee, of the “zero-tolerance” carding policy.

At Casey’s General Store on Somonauk Road, second assistant manager Jeff Raun had been advised to choose his words carefully when speaking to the press, but did reveal that the establishment’s license is in the works, and should be issued in January.

“I don’t think it’s set in stone,” Raun added.