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A Timeout for Siblings, But Officials Push Shutdown

By Benjamin Woodard | January 14, 2013 10:47am | Updated on January 14, 2013 2:11pm
 The manager of Siblings bar, 2827 W. Howard St., said he plans to reopen the bar soon.
The manager of Siblings bar, 2827 W. Howard St., said he plans to reopen the bar soon.
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DNAinfo/Benjamin Woodard

WEST RIDGE — Siblings bar on the Chicago-Evanston border is trying to reopen after being shut by building inspectors in a coordinated police and aldermanic effort to close the troubled establishment for good.

The bar — at 2827 W. Howard St. across the street from the southern border of Evanston — was shut down Jan. 4 after building inspectors found issues with the building's wiring.

On the same day, city health inspectors showed up to issue citations for a broken sink, gaps under doors and missing vent covers in the bathrooms, according to city records.

"They've been trying to shut this bar down for years," said bar manager Chris Tobin, who confirmed the bar will try to reopen when inspectors find the building up to code.

 Rogers Park Police District Cmdr. James Roussell (r.) said he had been working with Ald. Debra Silverstein (l.), to close down Siblings for good.
Rogers Park Police District Cmdr. James Roussell (r.) said he had been working with Ald. Debra Silverstein (l.), to close down Siblings for good.
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DNAinfo/Benjamin Woodard

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th) said at a community policing meeting that she had been working with Rogers Park Police District Cmdr. James Roussell and Evanston Police Chief Richard Eddington to close the bar.

"The shooting we had there back in December was important to us," said Eddington, when reached by phone. "And we think that addressing the status of the bar would help" curb other criminal activity in the area.

A 20-year-old man was shot multiple times while exciting a vehicle on Dec. 8, 2012, in Evanston. Police said he sought refuge in the bar after running from two attackers. The man survived.

A dozen Evanston residents attended the Thursday night CAPS meeting at the Bernard Horwich Jewish Community Center to complain about the noise and violence they say originates from Siblings.

"We are really sick of this mess," said a woman who lives near the bar in Evanston.

Another Evanston resident, who manages apartments across the street, said late-night activity at the bar scares his tenants.

"We're with you," said Roussell. "We want it closed."

The bar's owner, Sunil Mosa, couldn't be reached for comment.

Tobin said the bar could reopen at any time. He's only waiting for the city to sign off on recent improvements that should bring it up to code.

But the alderman and police commander said a permanent closure is imminent, and when it is closed, nothing can reopen in its place because Silverstein instated a liquor moratorium on the 50th Ward when she took office.

"We're very close to closing the bar," Roussell said.