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Funky Buddha Owner Might Sell Embattled Club, Alderman Says

By Stephanie Lulay | December 10, 2014 5:02am
 Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. plans to address shootings that have happened near Funky Buddha Lounge at a CAPS meeting Thursday.
Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. plans to address shootings that have happened near Funky Buddha Lounge at a CAPS meeting Thursday.
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dnainfo/Mauricio Pena; Bill Motchan

RIVER WEST — The owner of the embattled Funky Buddha Lounge is considering selling the business, Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) said Tuesday.

Burnett said he met with owner Nick Stavropoulos late last week, and the Funky Buddha owner indicated that he may be interested in selling the nightclub. Funky Buddha now rents space in a building at 728 W. Grand Ave.

"I got the impression that he really doesn't want to deal with this type of drama," Burnett said. "He doesn't want the pressure from the police, from the city, from the neighbors."

Asked whether he would sell the nightclub Tuesday, Stavropoulos told a reporter: "That's none of your business." He declined to answer further questions.

 Donald Shedrick, charged with Nov. 9 shooting at Funky Buddha Lounge in River West
Donald Shedrick, charged with Nov. 9 shooting at Funky Buddha Lounge in River West
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Chicago Police Department

Two November shootings near Funky Buddha have prompted neighbors to call for the longtime's bar's closing. Hundreds of residents have now signed a neighborhood petition asking Burnett to work to shut the bar down.

Burnett said he believes Stavropoulos will attend a community policing meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at Coyne College, 330 N. Green St., where Burnett plans to address the recent shootings outside the lounge.

Burnett said last week that he has also asked Near West Police District Cmdr. Melissa Staples and a representative from the city liquor commissioner's office to attend.

"Then we'll take it from there," Burnett said last week. "We're going to bring all of the bodies to the table."

Nov. 9 shooting

Donald Shedrick, 47, of Auburn Gresham, has been charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm in connection with a Nov. 9 shooting at the lounge.

Prosecutors said Shedrick fired five or six shots outside the club at 3:20 a.m. on Nov. 9. One bullet hit someone's coat, but that person wasn't seriously injured, prosecutors said.

Multiple sources have said that Shedrick worked at the bar, although police said he was unemployed and a gang member. Stavropoulos would not say whether the shooter was a patron or employee of the bar.

Two other men were charged with aggravated battery in connection with the shooting, including Cortney Johnson, who prosecutors said was also a bar employee.

The Nov. 9 shooting was captured on a 77-second surveillance video provided to DNAinfo Chicago.

Nov. 30 shooting

In the Nov. 30 incident, prosecutors said an off-duty Cook County Sheriff's officer heard gunshots about 2:55 a.m. and ran toward the noise and spotted 27-year-old Fernando Lopez shooting at a group of people outside Funky Buddha.

Lopez pointed his gun at the officer, who opened fire, striking Lopez several times, prosecutors said.

A second man, later identified as 27-year-old Mario Orta, picked up Lopez's gun and pointed it toward the officer, who was now holding the wounded Lopez in his arms, Mack said.

Orta allegedly fired shots at the officer then fled, while Lopez was hospitalized with gunshot wounds, police said.

Lopez was charged with aggravated assault of a peace officer and other crimes, while Orta faces attempted murder and other charges.

Stavropoulos and police said surveillance video at the club confirms the Nov. 30 shooting was spurred by a car accident, not a fight inside the nightclub. 

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