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Stadium Club Owner Says Partnership Meant To Save Bar Never Materialized

By Howard Ludwig | December 15, 2016 8:07am
 Dan Cullinan has owned Cullinan's Stadium Club in Morgan Park since 1989. The bar and grill at 11610 S. Western Ave. was shut down Dec. 8 by the Illinois Department of Revenue.
Dan Cullinan has owned Cullinan's Stadium Club in Morgan Park since 1989. The bar and grill at 11610 S. Western Ave. was shut down Dec. 8 by the Illinois Department of Revenue.
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DNAinfo/Howard A. Ludwig

MORGAN PARK — The owner of Cullinan's Stadium Club said a potential partnership that fizzled in the 11th hour was one of the reasons behind the closure of his bar and grill.

Dan Cullinan has owned the sports bar at 11610 S. Western Ave. in Morgan Park since 1989. He admitted that state auditors found a discrepancy in his tax filings a couple of years ago.

He was hoping to bring on a partner who would help pay to resolve the issue. The partnership would have meant renaming the bar and incorporating a few other changes as well, said Cullinan, a Beverly resident.

But the deal fell apart a couple of weeks ago as the partner "overextended himself," said Cullinan, who added that the Illinois Department of Revenue shut down his bar Dec. 8.

 This is one of three bright green signs that were stuck to the outside windows of Cullinan's Stadium Club Dec. 8. In three different languages, the signs all read that
This is one of three bright green signs that were stuck to the outside windows of Cullinan's Stadium Club Dec. 8. In three different languages, the signs all read that "the business' certificate of registration is hereby revoked."
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DNAinfo/Howard A. Ludwig

Three green stickers were placed on the windows facing Western Avenue, serving as notification of the closure. And Cullinan admits that he's "embarrassed" by the turn of events and never would have anticipated his small business coming to such an end.

"The Department of Revenue isn't touched by that holiday cheer," Cullinan said. "If there's a secret Santa out there, I sure would like to know."

Cullinan said he hopes to resolve the issue and reopen — ideally before Christmas as the holiday season is often lucrative. But he hesitated to put any timeframe on the bar's return.

"If I have any luck of the Irish, I'll be back before I know it," he said, adding that if things don't work out he's been glad to serve the community for early three decades.

Indeed, Cullinan had hoped state regulators would wait until after the holidays to take any action on his business. He also thought that the issue was still in the appeals process, and he's willing to work out some sort of payment plan.

In the wake of the closure, the bar owner said many customers have said they'll miss the Stadium Club's half-pound burgers, which were often sold as a two-for-one special. Cullinan said he'd like nothing more than to be back behind the grill.

"Hopefully, we will get back into the swing of things," he said.

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