Brudder's Put On Notice: 'Clean Up Act' Or City Will Shut Bar Down

IRVING PARK — Brudder's owners are being hauled in for a meeting with Chicago's liquor commission, law department, police and aldermen to develop a plan of operation that, if violated, could cost the bar its license, Ald. John Arena (45th) told neighbors Wednesday night.

The bar, 3600 N. Pulaski Road, has voluntarily agreed to remain shuttered through April 18 after the fatal shooting of bouncer Angel Ortiz on April 2. Arena said his message to owners would be to "stay closed until you can get your act together."

The alderman has invoked the "deleterious impact" ordinance against Brudder's, which requires nuisance bars to outline how they will handle security, entertainment and other aspects of operation.

Brudder's plan, once reviewed by the community and approved by the liquor commission, will define how the bar can do business, serving as a binding contract, the alderman explained. If the bar fails to honor the agreement, the city can use those violations to build a case to shut the bar down, Arena told residents at a standing-room-only CAPS meeting.

The meeting between Brudder's and the city is set for Thursday morning.

"This is the fastest I've seen a hearing," said Cmdr. Elias Voulgaris of the Albany Park (17th) Police District. "They are taking this seriously."

RELATED: Bouncer, a Father of Two, Wasn't Intended Victim, Family Says

Neighbors said Brudder's, which bills itself as a sports bar, turns into a "free-for-all zoo" on weekends.

Patrons routinely leave the bar after its 2 a.m. close, head to a nearby 7-Eleven to buy more alcohol, and continue drinking in the neighborhood, leading to fights, public urination and vomiting "all night long," residents said.

The fatal shooting was the "culmination" of a pattern of violence at the bar that's left neighbors frightened of stray bullets, said one CAPS attendee.

Over the last two years, data showed 44 calls to 911 related to the bar, including seven that involved guns.

"Seven times 'man with a gun or shots fired' — I don't know any other bar with that," Arena said.

The alderman intends to ban Brudder's from bringing in outside promoters, whose events have spawned much of the violence at the bar, he said.

"I know promoters are the biggest problem, these are not the best operators," Arena said.

Promoters, which aren't licensed, essentially borrow a bar's liquor license to hold parties and concerts, with no responsibility to the neighborhood and no repercussions for their actions, he said.

Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th) introduced an ordinance to license promoters, but that legislation never made it out of committee, Arena said.

Neighbors were encouraged to share their complaints about Brudder's with the Law Department to help frame the city's demands for the plan of operation.

Residents were told to be specific, paint a complete picture and to use words like "nuisance" and "threat to safety."

Complaints should be emailed to Kimberly Roberts in the Law Department at kimberly.roberts@cityofchicago.org, copying Ald. Arena's and/or Ald. Ariel Reboyras' offices.

Police said they have leads that they believe will result in arrests in both the Brudder's shooting and a fatal stabbing at Bart's Coins & Collectibles.

"I know when you hear about the coin shop murder and Brudder's, everybody feels uneasy," Voulgaris said.

With summer approaching, the commander said he was developing various strategies to combat crime, including "saturation patrols ... to catch people off guard."

He vowed to personally patrol Brudder's to make sure something like Ortiz' shooting never happens again.

"I'll be there every Friday and Saturday night myself," Voulgaris said. "If I have to sit right in front of the place, I'll do it."

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: