Joliet Shuts Down The Niche After Grand Opening Shootings

JOLIET, IL — Joliet builder and commercial property owner Noe Patino tells Patch he is hoping to meet with city of Joliet officials and get The Niche reopened within three to five days. On Monday, city officials slapped a red sticker on Patino's former Montgomery Ward building in downtown Joliet at the corner of Ottawa and Van Buren streets.

A woman, 20, and a man, 28, were both shot at the grand opening party for a new urban clothing store called The Niche on Saturday night. One of the errant bullets traveled a couple blocks and went through a window at the new Will County Courthouse that opens next month.

During Monday afternoon's interview, Patino emphasized the non-fatal shootings did not occur inside the new clothing store, rather along the sidewalk. However, both shooting victims were among several guests attending the grand opening gala for The Niche.

"I don't know what happened," Patino told Patch on Monday afternoon. "Unfortunately, these things happen" all over.

Several downtown Joliet businesses took to social media over the weekend saying they had no idea The Niche was planning to open. Joliet Chamber of Commerce President Jen Howard told Joliet Patch's editor on Monday afternoon she had no clue The Niche was coming to downtown Joliet, either.

On Monday morning, city of Joliet neighborhood services officials put a bright red sticker on Patino's commercial building that reads "NOT APPROVED FOR OCCUPANCY."

It reads, "This notice must not be removed under penalty of law."

When reached later for comment, Patino told Patch it's his understanding the city of Joliet wants to conduct a walk through inspection of the retail store, which is roughly 1,800 square feet. Patino said he does not foresee any issues with the city inspections, and he expects the city will grant an occupancy permit at that time.

"The city just wants to do a building review; we should be OK," Patino said Monday. "We hope to get everything back to normal and everything (will) be successful."

Patino bought the old Montgomery Ward property in 2018, and he has invested several thousand dollars in improvements to the building in hopes of landing several tenants to lease the space from him. He told Patch at the time he was calling his redevelopment Plaza 66.

(Joliet Patch article continues below this photo.)

For many months, Patino had a banner displayed on one of the other storefront bays proclaiming that a Mexican breakfast and lunch cafe called El Dorado Restaurant will be opening here. In November 2018, Patino told Patch the cafe would open no later than March of 2019, well before the coronavirus pandemic hit, but that's never materialized.

On Monday, Patino told Patch that a new establishment called Angel's Bar & Grill will be going into the space that was being considered for the El Dorado Restaurant.

In 2018, Patino told Joliet Patch he intends to open a night club in the basement of his building. However, city of Joliet building inspectors had major issues with his plans for a downstairs night club for a host of safety reasons.

In the event of a fire or another emergency, for instance, clubgoers could have been trapped inside and unable to escape the building since the proposed night club is at the bottom of a stairwell, city officials told Patch last year.

Related Joliet Patch coverage: Joliet Police Make Arrest After 2 Shot At The Niche