Anthony's: No More 3 a.m. Closings On Weekends

JOLIET, IL - An adverse showdown between Anthony's Restaurant & Pub and Joliet's Liquor Commission was averted Friday afternoon. The emergency public hearing, set for 11:30 a.m. ultimately did not place. Instead, legal representatives for Anthony's Restaurant worked out a tentative agreement with Joliet city officials to make sure their liquor license is not in immediate jeopardy.

Attorney Edward Masters said that his client, Anthony's, has voluntarily agreed to cut its hours on Fridays and Saturdays nights, and it will also stop featuring live entertainment acts on the weekends. Anthony's liquor license allowed the business near the Louis mall to stay open until 3 a.m. on weekends.

Now, the bar plans to close at 2 a.m. on the weekends.

Starting immediately, Anthony's has agreed to start closing down at 2 a.m. on Friday nights and Saturday nights, Masters told reporters who came to cover the city's liquor hearing. These new hours for Anthony's were supposed to take effect starting this weekend.

"I think we cooperated with the city, and I think you will see changes," Masters said. "The city did not give a lot" in terms of the negotiations, Masters added.

The bar at the 3100 block of Voyager Lane was the site of another violent crime over the weekend. The bar was had been the site of a parking lot gunfire incident back in February.

Last weekend's non-fatal shootings occurred around 2:40 a.m. Sunday, an incident that began with a parking lot fight. All told, a 35-year-old woman from Minooka was stabbed on the right side of her cheek, a 26-year-old Joliet woman was knocked unconscious, a 31-year-old Joliet man suffered a graze gunshot wound and a 25-year-old Joliet woman suffered gunshot wounds to both of her legs, Joliet police said. A few of the vehicles parked nearby were also sprayed with gunfire.

Joliet police have said they are looking for two men who sped away in a getaway car after the shootings. The February shooting incident also remains unsolved, police said.

Interim City Attorney Chris Regis said Friday that he was pleased that Anthony's is taking the initiative, on a voluntary basis, to curb the recurring problems that have tend to take place during the early morning hours.

"They are cooperating with us ... They have made changes to their business model," Regis said. "This agreement will be official later next week."