Tapville, which has locations in Naperville and at Fox Valley Mall in Aurora, has opened a beer garden at Chicago Premium Outlets mall in Aurora. (Cassandra Testyon / HANDOUT)

A new beer garden has opened at Chicago Premium Outlets mall in Aurora.

Tapville Social, owned by Final Stretch Events LLC, opened its beverage kiosk in the outdoor plaza near Saks off 5th at the outlet mall. The facility is similar to those Tapville operates in Naperville, and in Fox Valley Mall in Aurora.

The difference is that Tapville employees are pouring the beer for patrons at the outlet mall. At the other Tapvilles, people pour their own beverages.

Eventually, the Chicago Premium Outlets mall facility could become self-pour also. But another difference is that people buying beer at the outlet mall must stay within the beer garden; at Fox Valley Mall, for instance, people can stroll throughout the indoor mall with their beverage.

The beer garden has a mix of high-top tables and lower, six-seat tables. Tapville serves beer, wine and cider, but no hard liquor.

The Tapville concept of self-pouring still is a bit experimental, but is becoming popular throughout the country.

People use a credit card to get another special card to pay for beverages. The special card keeps track of how much someone has ordered, and stops after a total of 36 ounces.

Edwin Goitia, of Tapville, said at the outlet mall, people are issued wrist bands of a different color each day.

“All of our people are BASSET trained,” he said, referring to training all bartenders and wait staff take regarding alcohol service. “We’ve been in the liquor event business for 13 years.”

Goitia appeared recently before the Aurora City Council’s Public Health, Safety and Transportation Committee to get a liquor license approved for the outlet mall facility. Tapville already has had a license for a while for the Fox Valley Mall facility.

Ald. Scheketa Hart-Burns, 7th Ward, committee chair, said the facility has worked well at Fox Valley Mall.

“It’s really nice,” she said. “They’ve done a great job.”

While the full City Council still has to approve the Tapville license at the outlet mall, the company is able to operate on the basis of a temporary license for the Memorial Day weekend.

The City Council does not award liquor licenses, but aldermen do create a license for an applicant. The mayor, acting as liquor commissioner, approves the license.

Jennifer Stallings, Aurora city clerk, said the temporary license should segue into the final, full license, once it is approved.

In addition to Tapville, the outlet mall also saw the opening of another venue, this for people who might not want alcohol.

The Original Rainbow Cone, a Chicago feature since 1926, opened its signature, five-flavor ice cream cone stand from a shop on wheels at the shopping center.

The business offering up the orange sherbet, pistachio, Palmer House, strawberry and chocolate stacked cones (or cups) is located between Nike and Saks off 5th at the mall.