Pioneer Press
Mar 01, 2022 2:41 PM
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The liquor and video gaming licenses of a Franklin Park sports bar were rescinded last month after the club sustained damage from a fire last summer at the pizzeria next door.
The village board voted unanimously on Feb. 7 to revoke the Class A2 liquor license of Sugar Skull, at 9743 Franklin Ave, owned by J and B Ventures, LLC.
The action was prompted by Village Code provisions stating that a liquor license is considered forfeited if the holder fails to pay a license installment fee, ceases business operations or closes for more than 30 days without written permission from the Liquor Commissioner.
For the same reasons, trustees also voted unanimously to rescind Sugar Skull’s license for video gaming.
There are seven additional liquor license classifications in Franklin Park and 10 other businesses that currently hold video gaming licenses.
In a recent statement, Franklin Park Mayor Barrett Pedersen said the matter “is an ongoing investigation and no further information is available at this time.”
Separately, Franklin Park Police Chief Michael Witz said: “We have nothing to add at this time.”
Surveillance video at the time from the alley behind the pizzeria shows two men, both wearing hospital masks, walking at 2:16 A.M. One has a hoodie over his head and the other is wearing a hat.
Seven minutes later, apparently the same two men are seen fleeing from the scene. One is wearing the same hat but the other person, dark-haired, has no head covering, pants or shoes.
A brick was found near the broken front door glass, according to earlier reporting, and a can that smelled like gasoline was discovered inside the restaurant at one of the points of the fire origin.
Although information or tips from the public were requested at the time, police have not announced whether any arrests have been made.
After the fire, Wow Pizzeria owner Marco Morocho told Pioneer Press he immigrated to the U.S. from Ecuador in 2005 and the business had been his livelihood.
