Last year, Dennis Radcliff attended one of NIU’s football games and afterward headed to Husky’s, the former restaurant located at 1205 W. Lincoln Highway, to grab a burger and a beer.

But Radcliff’s thirst for a brew couldn’t be satisfied because Husky’s did not have a liquor license. Radcliff thought something needed to change.

A year later, when the opportunity to open his own restaurant and bar came up, he decided to take a chance. He bought Husky’s and renamed it the Huskie Dawg Pound.

And he got a liquor license.

Radcliff celebrated the opening of the Huskie Dawg Pound with NIU’s upset over Maryland on Aug. 28. Although the restaurant and bar is up and running, the official grand opening will not take place until the last weekend in October, Radcliff said.

City clerk Donna Johnson said Radcliff obtained a class E liquor license, which allows the Huskie Dawg Pound to have a small bar with a large dining room, similar to what Applebee’s and Ruby Tuesday’s have. Under a class E license, the majority of sales must come from food.

Arcade Dreams, a former bar located at the Huskie Dawg Pound, had its liquor license revoked a few years ago for what Johnson said was “a series of violations.”

Radcliff intends to be more careful with his bar, saying that there always will be a doorman on weekends to make sure minors are not drinking. He said he also is going to make a special effort to be at his establishment on weekends.

Radcliff is no stranger to owning a business. Twenty years ago, he opened his first bar near Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Ill. He successfully ran the business for 10 years before calling it quits.

One of Radcliff’s main goals is to work with the university.

“I’d like to do a lot of catering with the university and its offices,” said Radcliff.

The Huskie Dawg Pound also will accept Huskie Bucks for food orders only.

Next year, Radcliff hopes to have head football coach Joe Novak in on Sunday mornings to talk about his team’s performance and to answer some fan questions.