Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- The Sapphire Room in Downtown Park Forest is well over $100,000 behind in rent, a situation that has dragged on since late last year, according to village officials. The building where the business is located is owned by the Village of Park Forest. Officials are embroiled in a long-running legal battle to have the tenant evicted.
“The business/lease at the Sapphire Room and the corresponding lease in the adjacent kitchen” are in arrears, Village Manager Tom Mick told eNews Park Forest. The business at Heads & Tails on Main Street is not in arrears, according to Mr. Mick.
eNews Park Forest reached out to the leaseholder, Mr. Dan McInerny, for comment. Mr. McInerny initially responded that he desired to comment, to “share the truth of the situation,” but, after a number of back-and-forths via email attempting to set up a meeting, Mr. McInerny stopped responding.
According to Mr. Mick, Mr. McInerny’s attorney is very skilled at getting continuances from the court.
There was a lot of hope when The Sapphire Room opened in September 2013. The business had a lot to offer at first: a restaurant/billiard hall/jazz & song club/Karaoke lounge and more. There was a VIP room, a pool room, and seven flat-screen televisions over the bar.
Those days appear to be gone. The last activity posted to the business’s Facebook page is from March 7, 2018.
The next court date is later this week, according to Mr. Mick.