After Blue Island officials temporarily shut down Harry’s Long Bar following a fight involving patrons outside the establishment, the owners are stepping up evening security measures.
Owner Jomon Jacob, who bought the bar less than a year ago, said he plans to install four exterior security cameras and hire additional guards who will be stationed outside. The bar is also switching to a new security company, Jacob said.
Former owner Harry Christou said he sold the bar in May 2024 and provided them with a list of banned patrons. According to Jacob, more than 100 people are prohibited from entering the bar.
Jacob said while they have made efforts to keep out problematic individuals, he was unaware of the fight outside until it was too late.
“We have 14 days to get a security plan in front of the city, and we’ve been talking to them almost daily,” Jacob said. “Again, we’re not fighting this. We just want to make sure we work with this village to get everything done properly.”
The city ordered a seven-day emergency closure of the bar after a fight involving patrons spilled onto the street early Sunday morning, April 20. Officials described it as a “violent incident” and said that, under city protocol, any establishment serving alcohol must temporarily close if a police response is required for an event that poses a safety risk.
The bar owner did not report the disturbance, violating a city ordinance requiring liquor license holders to report noise, disturbances, unusual conduct or weapons, the order states.
Blue Island police were sent to the bar after multiple patrons became involved in a fight or “mob-like altercation” on the sidewalk and street adjacent to the establishment, according to the emergency closure order.
Jacob said he was required to pay a hefty fine and shorten the bar’s hours through the end of the year as a result. The bar, which is usually open until 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, will close an hour earlier each day, he said.
Last call typically begins about 40 minutes before closing to encourage patrons to leave gradually and ensure the bar is empty on time, Jacob said. The fight, which broke out at about 2:45 a.m., occurred after a large crowd exited the bar at once, he said. Security, who were inside at the time, were initially unaware of the altercation but stepped in to help break it up once they were alerted, he said.
“We have a rule that we have to make sure everybody’s out of the building by 3 a.m.,” Jacob said. “So the security guards are normally busy 30 minutes before the closing time to start rounding up people, making sure they’re closing the tabs and all that. That’s why they really couldn’t see or notice what was going outside. But eventually somebody came and notified them. They went out and they broke it up, but it was too late for the city.”
Jacob believes the new security measures will help deter future events by increasing visibility. However, he feels the city response was harsh, since it occurred outside the bar, staff had little time or information to report it properly, and he wasn’t present that night.
The city used the same protocol to shut down The Vault and Raven’s Place after a woman fired a gun outside the Double Play Saloon on New Year’s Eve, a decision later upheld by a judge in 2023.
When Jacob took over the bar, he said strict security measures were put in place, including bag checks, a ban on large bags and handheld metal detector screenings to prevent people from entering with weapons.
While he acknowledges safety concerns played a role in the city’s decision to temporarily shut down the bar, he believes social media pressure also contributed. Ever since former DJs were caught using drugs in the bathroom and subsequently let go, he said online criticism of the bar has continued.
While Jacob understands the city’s safety concerns, he said the fine was steep, the reduced hours will last a long time and he’s also balancing the cost of his children’s college tuition.
“But hopefully, they said if everything goes well for a few months we can go back and negotiate with them and see if we can get it (regular hours) back,” he said.
smoilanen@chicagotribune.com
