The Arlington Heights village board Monday night denied a liquor license to petitioner Ilias Haritos, who sought a liquor license for Bottles and Barrels Sports Bar & Grill.
Haritos is hoping to open business at 1609 W. Campbell in the Westgate Shopping Center — the former location of Murphy’s.
Haritos has state Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training (BASSET) certification and has never had a liquor license violation or had a license revoked, but .
Haritos and Attorney Sam Amirante told the village board at the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting that the restaurant would have a welcoming environment and be open to families — “like ‘Cheer’s’,” a good, wholesome idea.” However trustees were concerned about the business name; the layout, which showed many tables only seating two people; and an incomplete menu without enough food options. The layout issue was re-visited, since there were questions from the Village of Arlington Heights back when the license application was initially submitted.
For several years, Arlington Heights has required food be available during all hours when and where liquor is served.
At the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting there was also some discussion regarding the employment background of Haritos, who was a manager at Polekatz, a full nude gentlemen’s club in Bridgeview. Haritos said he left Polekatz because he felt bad for the women he was hiring and he wanted to get away from the negative aspects of the business.
+ + +
Negative Aspects of Industry?
According to WGN, Chicago Tribune, and ABC 7 Chicago reports, Anthony “Tony Q” Quarata — an associate at “reputedly mob-connected” Polekatz strip club — was the target of an alleged plot to kill him (and chop up him up) by former Chicago police officer Steve Mandell. The jury convicted Mandell, age 63, of six of the counts related to the planned kidnapping/extortion/murder plot of Riverside businessman Steven Campbell. Mandell was acquitted of the two counts that involved an alleged plot to kill Quaranta. The FBI investigation involved 20 agents, including aerial surveillance of Mandell over a suburban mall parking lot. After his arrest, Mandell called his wife — an 82-year-old Buffalo Grove woman — to ask her to get rid of evidence. Federal authorities alleged that the motive of the plot against his targeted victims was to take over their portion of the lucrative Polekatz strip club.
+ + +
The denial of the liquor license does not prevent the Arlington Heights business from opening as a restaurant. Re-application for a liquor license is possible at a later date with the submission of a more complete menu and more complete business plan.
WGN Jury finds ex-cop guilty of kidnap, murder plot
ABC 7 Chicago EX-COP STEVE MANDELL GUILTY OF KIDNAP, MURDER PLOT
Chicago Tribune Ex-cop accused of plotting slayings to seize strip club
Get updates from The Cardinal ALL NEWS FEEDS on Facebook. Just ‘LIKE’ the ‘Arlington Cardinal Page (become a fan of our page). The updates cover all posts and sub-category posts from The Cardinal — Arlingtoncardinal.com. You can also limit feeds to specific categories. See all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages at Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
Reminds me of the karaoke place in International Plaza who couldn’t get a liquor license because a relative got busted for prostitution…lol. I see the village is gonna make this as hard as possible.