Orland Park Revokes Riviera Country Club's Business, Liquor Licenses

Orland Park IL

06 August, 2021

3:59 PM

Description

By Jon DePaolis, Richard Free Press: ORLAND PARK, Ill. — The Village of Orland Park has revoked both the business and liquor licenses of Riviera Country Club. This comes after reports surfaced in late July that a man wanted by federal authorities for violating the terms of his parole was found and arrested at the location. The Village cited several code violations on July 29 when it closed the business, which is located at 8801 W. 143rd St., following the man's arrest. Per the Village's press release on the matter, the violations included: an electrical panel needing repairs; removal of standing water; the need for a mold remediation company to report any findings and for any mold found to be remediated by the company; and for the business and elevator licenses to be brought up to date and fees paid. In the Village's revocation letter issued on Aug. 3, Mayor Keith Pekau referenced that on July 28, the Orland Park Police Department "participated in a joint raid on the property." "A federal fugitive was found on the premises," he wrote. "If called to testify, a code inspector from Orland Park would testify that there was evidence of said fugitive living at the licensed premises. Further, code inspectors would testify that public social media postings identified the premises as being under new management and/or new ownership; and that the business was operating without a valid business license. Finally, the Village proffered that names of new managers were submitted to the Village for addition to the liquor license on June 9, 2021; but that neither new manager completed the background check process. All of these occurred in violation of Title 7, Chapter 4, Section 7-4-23 of the Village Code of Orland Park, Illinois." At a public hearing held on Aug. 2, Pekau said the Village had received a letter from the owner of the business stating he was relinquishing his business and liquor licenses. "There were numerous violations in occupancy use and there were numerous building code violations," Pekau said in an interview with Richard Free Press later in the week. "We held the hearing, and I confirmed that [the licenses were] revoked." Pekau said there was a large crowd of people at the meeting who were impacted by the closure, and so he answered questions after the hearing concluded. "I made a statement that the Village itself cannot take any action regarding the civil and legal matters," he said. "We will be involved in a criminal investigation, and we encouraged everyone that was there to go file a report with the police about what was defrauded. But the criminal courts and the civil courts will have to take care of any remedies." Pekau also said the owner of the business told Village officials that once the business is able, it will allow members and employees to return to the site to retrieve any personal belongings. The Village also is recommending that those with contracts with the business owner should reach out to the business or to contact the office of the Illinois Attorney General Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-386-5438 or illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers. Richard Free Press is a one-stop destination for the news that most affects you, the southwest suburban resident. Be an informed citizen of the town you live in and love.