Darien Bar Owner Gets Vulgar Online

DARIEN, IL – Darien bar owner Robert Taft got vulgar on Facebook this week, questioning why a rival hadn't taken his own life.

On Wednesday, a Downers Grove commissioner published screenshots of what he said were Taft's "abhorrent" Facebook posts directed at an opponent of video gambling.

Taft owns Q Bar in Darien. Q Bar locations are also in Downers Grove and Aurora.

Asked by phone Thursday about the posts, Taft said they were taken out of context. Then he hung up.

In a later text to Patch, Taft said he has a multi-year history with the other person.

"I was asking him why he won’t end the ongoing harassment of me in my message," Taft said. "This relates to prior history in another town, not in regards to video gaming. It was sent due to frustration of years of feeling harassed."

During the last day, he appears to have pulled the plug on his Facebook page. Patch has communicated with Taft before through Facebook.

The posts, which contained grammatical errors, were sent about 1 a.m.

In one post, Taft said to the other person, "Your a bitch and your wife is a pig."

A couple of minutes later, Taft added, "Your such a f------ loser. How do you not end it? Seriously, the funny part is I make more in a month than you do in a year and I find that amazing. What a f------ loser you are."

Greg Hosé, a Downers Grove Village Board commissioner, noted Taft spoke in favor of video gambling at a Village Board meeting earlier this week.

"Over the last month or so, Downers Grove has had a spirited debate over whether or not to permit video gambling," Hosé said on Facebook. "Passions have run high but that is never an excuse for disgusting and abusive behavior."

Hosé continued, "This abhorrent behavior makes it very easy to decide where I’ll spend my dining and entertainment dollars. Apparently, he’s doing just fine without them."

In Darien, Taft appears to have a good relationship with City Hall. In 2021, officials said Taft worked with them when the city received complaints about noise from the bar. He also sits on the city's Economic Development Committee.

Darien Fest, a major fundraiser for the local chamber of commerce, has been held in front of Q Bar before.