HIGHLAND PARK, IL — A demand for royalties from the Ravinia Festival halted preparations to open a brewpub in Highland Park's Ravinia district in the coming months. The outdoor music festival sent a letter to the Ravinia Brewing Company two weeks ago demanding licensing payments and royalties for the brewery's use of the neighborhood's name, according to the Ravinia Neighbors Association, a local community organization.

Ravinia has been the name of the area since 1873. It was annexed into Highland Park in 1899. The Ravinia Festival, the oldest outdoor music festival in North America, was founded in 1904. In 2011, the nonprofit obtained a trademark for the use of the term "Ravinia" for "restaurant services; catering services; offering banquet facilities." The festival has three other active trademarks, two of which involve "Entertainment services; namely, presentation of performing arts shows and conducting performing arts festivals." The other involves providing food and catering services under the name "Ravinia Festival."

Between 1985 and 2015, the proposed location of the Ravinia Brewing Company's restaurant at 592 Roger Williams Avenue housed Ravinia BBQ. There is no indication Ravinia Festival ever sought licensing payments from that restaurant during its three decades of operation. In order for the music festival to get its trademark for "restaurant services," it filed a sworn statement alleging there was no other restaurant using the name, despite the existence of the longtime barbecue joint. The Ravinia Brewing Company filed for its trademark in 2015. There is no record of the music festival raising any objection at the time. There is also no record of the music festival ever brewing beer.

The brewpub's owners, Highland Park residents Kris Walker, David Place and Brian Taylor, say they will be forced to cancel plans the business if the music festival doesn't relent. Their proposed pub planned to offer a full menu upon opening in April, but had no intention of hosting musical performances.

Walker said the outpouring of support from the community has reinforced the desire of the owners to be strong and active parts of the community.

"We are obviously disappointed in the letter we received requesting for us to sign a 'licensing agreement' with associated royalties and penalties," said Walker, the brewery's managing partner.

"[B]ut ultimately it is our hope that the leaders of the Festival will quickly step in to focus on the benefits that can be achieved through a strong community partnership, and ultimately, support the public interest mission on which Ravinia Festival was founded," he said.

Before receiving what he described as the "very tough letter," the brewery's relationship with the festival had been "friendly and encouraging."