Joliet Liquor Commission Hauls Anthony's Restaurant In For Friday Hearing

JOLIET, IL - The news just keep getting worse for a troubled bar and restaurant over near the Louis mall. Joliet's Liquor Commission has convened an emergency 11:30 a.m. public hearing Friday to debate the liquor license for Anthony's Restaurant & Pub. The bar at the 3100 block of Voyager Lane was the site of another violent crime over the weekend. The bar was also the site of a parking lot shooting back in February.

The latest shooting incident occurred around 2:40 a.m. Sunday, an event that first 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 said they are still looking for two men in connection with Sunday's shooting. None of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries. Back in February, a man pulled out a pistol around 12:30 a.m. in the Anthony's parking lot, firing gunshots into the air and several more rounds of ammunition before fleeing in a getaway car. Five shell casings were recovered by Joliet police from that incident and one bullet struck the Anthony's front window. No arrests have made been from that incident, police said this week.

At Friday's hearing, the city's liquor commission is expected to hear evidence presented by the Joliet Police Department related to the ongoing problems at Anthony's Restaurant. This marks the first time Anthony's has been hauled in front of the city's liquor commission. The city may impose sanctions or restrictions on Anthony's, but the restaurant's liquor license won't necessarily be revoked at this stage.

Theoretically, the city is not obligated to penalize Anthony's, but given the recurring incidents of late-night out of control violence and gunfire, Joliet officials are expected to impose some penalties on the bar.

The current liquor license allows Anthony's to stay open on weekends (Friday and Saturdays) until 3 a.m.

"The law of averages says that it could be something in the middle," said Interim Corporation Counsel Chris Regis. "At worst, we can yank their license, but that's very unlikely."

Anthony's replaced the former Samy's Bar, which encountered numerous problems with Joliet's liquor commission during its years of operation, before it finally closed.

Regis said the liquor commission may not issue its decision on Anthony's fate until sometime next week.

File image via Patch