Burr Ridge Mayor's 'Displeasure' With Shopping Center

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge trustees on Monday approved a request for outdoor dining at a restaurant. But the mayor chastised the family that owns the shopping center where the eatery is.

Patti's Sunrise Café, which is at the County Line Square shopping center, is now under the ownership of Michael Garber. He is part of the family that owns the center.

When the item came up at Monday's Village Board meeting, Mayor Gary Grasso sarcastically said the Garber family is "always in compliance with things in the village."

"I'm not in favor of doing anything but what we have to do," the mayor said. "If we have an ability not to grant this, I'd rather not see this granted."

Village staff noted the Plan Commission approved the request and that no one in the village objected to it.

Grasso again weighed in.

"I'm making my displeasure of the Garbers public again since they are always asking for things and never doing, in my opinion, enough to meet the requirements of the standards of this village," he said.

The mayor said he would withdraw his objection, given the request met village requirements and won the commission's approval.

"But I want things closely watched and make sure they stay within the rules," Grasso said.

John Garber, who has spoken on behalf of the family before, couldn't be reached for immediate comment Tuesday.

Grasso has criticized the Garbers before. At a December meeting, he noted a problem with planters in front of a restaurant at the shopping center.

"Typical Garber haphazard way they do things. So let's hold Mr. Garber's feet to the fire," the mayor said at the time.