WEST LOOP —The fate of an embattled West Loop restaurant and nightclub closed since September will not be determined until at least February, officials confirmed.
A hearing to consider the pending case against Red Kiva earlier this month was postponed, according to Mika Stambaugh, spokeswoman for the city's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. Red Kiva's next hearing date is now scheduled for Feb. 1.
The city moved to revoke the restaurant/nightclub's liquor license for administrative reasons in May before a fatal shooting occurred near the spot in September. At the time, Red Kiva agreed to close for 60 days, and in December, the club again agreed remain closed for an additional 60 days, according to the city's Department of Law spokesman Bill McCaffrey.
The latest hearing delay comes after the pending case against Red Kiva was postponed in September and November. Red Kiva remains closed.
In May, the city's department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection initiated a case to revoke Red Kiva's liquor license because the new owners failed to report the change of ownership as required by the city's licensing rules.
New owners were attempting to get the liquor license transferred from old ownership, Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) said, but they had an uphill battle. The West Loop Community Organization did not support the license transfer and Burnett was unsure if owners were able to garner support from other area groups.
While Princess Lomax now owns the business, Red Kiva's liquor license is still held by Elrick Williams, a former owner, according to city officials.
Both the victims and their attackers were at Red Kiva, 1108 W. Randolph St., in the early morning of Sept. 6 before a fight later broke out on the street, according to Burnett. The ensuing shooting on the sidewalk outside left one 23-year-old man dead and another injured.
Owners of Red Kiva agreed to voluntarily close the business for 60 days beginning Sept. 9, according to Carla Agostinelli, executive director of the West Loop Community Organization.
Immediately after the fatal shooting, Burnett said police would push Red Kiva to close. At the time, Burnett said police leaders did not think the shooting near Red Kiva met the burden required by a new city ordinance to close problem bars, but said police were meeting with Red Kiva owners to pressure the bar to voluntarily close for 60-90 days, Burnett said.
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