Brudder's To Reopen With Restrictions: Earlier Close, ID Scan, No DJs

OLD IRVING PARK — In the wake of a shooting death of a bouncer earlier this month, Brudder's Bar & Grill will reopen next week under numerous restrictions agreed upon by the bar's lawyers and the city.

The terms are preliminary restrictions put in place while the city's Law Department and Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection hammer out a full-blown "plan of operation" for Brudder's, 3600 N. Pulaski Road, according to Owen Brugh, chief of staff for Ald. John Arena (45th).

The bar's owners agreed to voluntarily close through April 18 after bouncer Angel Ortiz was killed April 2.

Among the conditions upon reopening:

• For the first two weekends, Brudder's will close an hour early, at 2 a.m. rather than 3 a.m.

• No DJs will be allowed until at least Labor Day.

• The fire code, which states a maximum occupancy of 60, will be enforced. The bar will start using a clicker to keep count of patrons.

• Patrons' drivers licenses will be scanned at the entrance to provide a record of anyone who walks into the bar.

• Owners will add one more security camera to the 16 already in place.

Arena 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 recent standing-room-only CAPS meeting.

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, one CAPS meeting attendee said.

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

Residents can share their concerns about Brudder's with the Law Department to help frame the city's demands for the plan of operation.

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.

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: