Capri Vs. Capri: Fire Lanes Now the Issue

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge police have responded to four complaints in the last month that cars were parked in the fire lane at Capri Ristorante. In one instance, a citation was issued.

The complaints are likely a response to the Village Board's recent rejection of Capri Express' request for a larger awning. Trustees said they did so because the restaurant's delivery drivers were using the fire lane.

Earlier this year, Capri Express joined the opposition to Capri Ristorante owner Filippo "Gigi" Rovito's plan for the Are We Live lounge, which opened last week. Capri Ristorante and Capri Express are separately owned, despite their similar names. They are in County Line Square.

Patch filed a public records request for fire lane complaints involving Capri Ristorante. The police returned with four reports.

The Burr Ridge Village Board rejected Capri Express' request for a larger awning. Trustees based their decision on the restaurant's use of its fire lane. (David Giuliani/Patch)

The first one was Sept. 1, in which a police officer cited the owner of a 2019 Range Rover.

In the second instance, on Sept. 7, a person called police, saying two vehicles were parked in the fire lane. An officer found a 2013 Cadillac in the lane. Employees said a customer pulled up to the door to drop off an elderly person with an oxygen tank, police said. The owner then moved the car.

On Sept. 17, police were told a white Mercedes convertible was parked in the fire lane. An officer, however, did not see any fire lane parking violations, according to a report.

Prompted by a call Monday, police found a gray 2019 Porsche parked on the curb where there was no indication of a fire lane, police said. The owner walked out of the restaurant and moved the car.

Rovito, who has connections to Mayor Gary Grasso, could not be reached for comment.

In early August, Trustee Guy Franzese called for a delay in Capri Express' request for an awning. Before making a decision, he said he wanted a police report on an incident that he said involved Capri Express and another business.

The police later showed that Capri Express was not involved. The incident was an exchange of words between Rovito and former Trustee Zach Mottl about a zoning issue involving Are We Live.

In late July, Franzese and the other trustees gave preliminary approval for the awning, but Franzese said he was concerned with the use of the fire lane by the restaurant's delivery drivers. The owner said he would ask his drivers not to use the lane.

Later in August, the board rejected the awning request, saying they had evidence that the restaurant had not taken care of the fire lane issue. The trustees plan to revisit the issue in October.