WEST LOOP — A West Loop salon owned by a man charged in three rape cases is illegally operating without a business license, city officials said Monday.
While Soleil Tanning's business license expired on Sunday, a woman working at the salon Monday afternoon confirmed the shop was open for business. The shop would be open until 10 p.m., said the woman, who declined to identify herself.
Messages left at the salon for Marc Winner were not returned.
The salon's business license expired on Sunday, and owners have not filed to renew the license as of late Monday afternoon, said Mika Stambaugh, spokeswoman for the city's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.
City officials visited the business Monday and issued a required 10-day notice that the business was operating without a license, Stambaugh said. After 10 days, the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection will issue a Cease and Desist order if Soleil Tanning continues to operate without a license.
Winner has been charged with sexually assaulting three women between 2009 and 2015. Each victim either visited or worked at the salon located in the 1018 W. Madison St. building, prosecutors charged in court documents. His attorney has said Winner is "anxious" to have his day in court.
Winner co-owns Soleil Tanning with Kregg Kiel, according to city records. Calls made to Kiel Monday were not immediately returned.
Ald. Danny Solis (25th) said Monday afternoon that he has urged city officials to shut the business down as soon as possible.
Soleil Tanning should be closed "in light of the owner's situation," Solis said.
"Until that issue is resolved, he shouldn't be operating a business, especially because he does not have a valid business license," Solis said.
Solis said Monday that he supports West Loop residents who have called for the business to close.
"A majority of my constituents feel the same way," he said.
Earlier this month, condo owners that share a building with the salon urged city officials to close the business.
"We are sickened by the allegations that the owner of the salon, Marc Winner, committed multiple violent rapes of customers and employees of the salon, in our building," the letter from the condo association reads. "Besides these horrendous allegations, owners have had numerous other problems with him in recent years, ranging from allegations of drug dealing at the salon to violations of the city parking code."
At the time, Solis' staff said he would push for Soleil Tanning's license not to be renewed.
Winner is also named in a pending business license discipline case for debt owed, Stambaugh previously said.
In November 2015, a Chicago realty company also filed a lawsuit aiming to evict Winner from a River North location, court records show. A hearing that had been scheduled for last Friday in the case was continued.
Related:
Accused Serial Rapist's Tanning Salon Should Be Shut Down, Alderman Says
Suspected Serial Rapist Marc Winner 'Anxious' For Trial, Attorney Says
Tanning Salon Owner Marc Winner Raped Me in 2001 But Went Free, Woman Says
West Loop Tanning Salon Owner Marc Winner Charged In 3rd Rape Case
Tanning Salon Owner Allegedly Raped 2nd Woman After Judge Tossed 2013 Case
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