MORGAN PARK — A GoFundMe effort aimed at reopening Cullinan's Stadium Club in Morgan Park was launched Thursday by neighboring Beverly Records.
John Dreznes' family owns the record store at 11612 S. Western Ave. He claimed responsibility for the online fundraiser titled, "Let's Help Dan Get His Bar Back."
Dreznes said he has no idea how much bar owner Dan Cullinan owes the Illinois Department of Revenue, which shut down the bar and grill Dec. 8. So he randomly set the goal of the campaign at $100,000.
"I haven't talked to Dan about [the fundraiser]. I think he would say 'Don't you dare,'" Dreznes said Thursday.
Regardless of the bar owner's modesty, Dreznes said he's sympathetic to the plight of the struggling small business owner. For his part, Dreznes committed $500 to the effort and said all proceeds will be handed over to Cullinan — regardless of how much is raised.
Stadium Club "has hosted more charity events than any of us could ever count," Dreznes' fundraising page said. "We have all had a great time hanging out here over the years."
Cullinan said Wednesday a potential partnership meant to bailout the bar fizzled in the 11th hour a couple of weeks ago. Cullinan would not disclose how much he owes in unpaid taxes.
A Beverly resident, Cullinan has owned the bar since 1989. He said state auditors found a discrepancy in his tax filings a couple of years ago.
He had hoped to work out the tax issue through an appeals process but never got the chance. Now Cullinan is worried that his business will further suffer by missing out on revenue from the holiday season.
The fundraiser points to the bar's longtime two-for-one cheeseburger special, and it's throwback approach to the tavern business — favoring light beer over trendy craft concoctions.
"Let's all pay Dan Cullinan for that second cheeseburger and get him back on his feet, so we can raise our macro-brew in a bottle once again at 116th and Western," the fundraiser says.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here.
