Barber Denies Promoting Racy Event, Refutes Cease & Desist Order

CHICAGO, IL - A Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood barber shop owner was issued a "Cease & Desist" order for operating without a public place of amusement license and failure to display the required license this week. The order was made after two flyers promoting an event apparently scheduled for this Saturday night at the barbershop had surfaced, 19th Ward Ald. Matt O'Shea told ward residents in an email on Wednesday.

But Tony Moore, owner of Mr. Tony & Co. VIP at 11626 S. Western Ave., says he had nothing to do with the distribution of the flyers, does not know how they were circulated and first learned of the content when O'Shea included images of them in the mass email.

"I don't get down like that," said Moore, who says he's owned the barbershop for about 10 years. "Those are not my flyers."

The flyers circulated promoting the event included racy images of either unclothed or scantily clothed women. They indicate plans for a party to begin at 11 p.m. Saturday and call for a $20 charge, which is not allowed without the PPA license.

A look at one of the flyers is below. Parts of this image were blurred by Patch. The alderman's email included unblurred images.

"I never partake in any of that," Moore said. "I've been here (in the neighborhood) for years, my daughter goes to Clissold (Elementary School) and I give back to the community."

Moore says the only event he has planned this weekend is a back-to-school party on Sunday in which kids will be given free haircuts and hairstyles.

"I've been doing this back-to-school event for six years," he said.

A look at his business' Facebook page includes a number of references to the back-to-school event, but none of the party referred to in the flyer.

In the cease & desist order issued to Mr. Tony by the Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection, it was alleged that the business was "operating without the required public place of amusement license" and "failure to display required license."

Specifically, the order stated that the business was in violation of "hosting events with entertainment and charging a fee ($20 admission)" as well as "sales, possession, giving away and consumption of liquor on premises where a Tavern license is required," including the use of liquor after the legal hours to do so.

The business can challenge the order in court on Nov. 6.

The business affairs inspection was requested by O'Shea, according to the order. The alderman did not immediately respond to a request for further comment on the issue.

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Moore says the information on the flyer, which had on it the logo of a company called "Eye Kandi Entertainment," does not match the flyers he normally hands out and used a different logo than the one usually associated with his business.

"It (the flyer) says 'Mr.Tony's Barbershop'... we are Mr. Tony & Co. VIP," he said. "I've been in this community for years. Why would I do this to my own business?"

He says "someone is trying to trash my character."

"All I want to do is help kids going back to school and cut hair."

Eye Kandi Entertainment did not respond to a request for information on their involvement in the possible distribution of the flyers.

O'Shea asked residents in his email to call 911 immediately if they observe "any late night activity" at the barbershop.

Top Photo: Tony Moore stands by his barbershop at 116th and Western on Thursday / Photo by Tim Moran, Patch