Two Blue Island bars were stripped of their liquor licenses this week following what Mayor Fred Bilotto called “a troubling shooting incident” last month at one of the establishments.
Bilotto revoked the liquor licenses for Raven’s Place and The Vault, both in the 13000 block of Western Avenue, following a City Liquor Commission hearing regarding the Sept. 17 shooting outside of Raven’s Place. Two people were injured in the shooting, said city administrator Thomas Wogan.
The licenses were revoked Oct. 17, Wogan said.
“This is not a decision I make lightly,” Bilotto said in a statement. “As a mayor, I want to see more businesses open and thriving, and I have always enjoyed a good relationship with the owners of Raven’s Place and The Vault.”
The owner of the bars did not return requests for comment. The Vault had a bright orange city violation notice dated Sept. 17.
Last May, following a a shooting, Bilotto and city staff met with the owners of Raven’s Place and The Vault to draft a safety agreement “designed to help prevent future incidents.”
Bilotto, as liquor control commissioner, issued an emergency closure order on The Vault from May 7 to 14, 2021, according to the safety agreement.
The owners agreed to regulations “to ensure that operation of their establishments shall not be harmful to the safety, morals and welfare of the community.”
The agreement stated owners would use ID scanners to check identification of those coming in, with no one under 30 allowed into Raven’s Place and no one under 25 in The Vault. Raven’s Place was not to sell alcohol after 1:30 a.m. and would close by 2 a.m., while The Vault wouldn’t sell alcohol after 2 a.m. and would close by 2:30 a.m., under the agreement.
The age restrictions were negotiated and set because the May shooting involved those under 25, Wogon said. Wogan said the owners were in violation of the age restrictions and the hours for selling alcohol and closing at the time of the September shooting, which also involved patrons under 25.
The agreement warned violations of it or local, state or federal law could result in sanctions including revocation of both licenses.
Bilotto said his most important obligation was to the health and safety of the community and its residents.
“No business or relationship is more important than our security, and the actions of my administration will always reflect our shared goal of making our community as safe as possible,” Bilotto said.