Troubled Lety's bar closes in Mount Prospect after year

After less than a year in business, the often troubled Lety's Sports Bar & Grill, 1827 W. Algonquin Road in Mount Prospect, has closed.

Tortas Locas, a Mexican restaurant currently operated at 1839 W. Algonquin Road by the same owner, will be moving into the former sports bar's location.

Owner Jesus Rosales said he closed Lety's July 10 because of the problems it generated since opening. He said he originally opened the bar hoping people would come to watch sports games and instead, they came to "drink and drink and drink."

In its short life, the bar had a number of serious liquor violations, which resulted in the suspension of its liquor license in February. Violations included serving clearly intoxicated customers, failing to report fights and allowing the consumption of alcoholic beverages not purchased on site, according to village documents.

Mayor Irvana Wilks returned the license to Lety's on March 11, but the bar was placed on probation and had to fulfill several requirements, including installing a security camera, hiring a security person, and paying the village's costs of prosecuting the violations.

The bar also had to close at 11 p.m. every night, when it previously had remained open until 2 a.m., Rosales said.

The probation period ended April 30 and in May, Wilks granted it a Class S-6 liquor license, which required some of the conditions to remain.

Tortas Locas, which has had no liquor violations since it opened in 2003, will continue to operate with a class F-2 liquor license at the new location. The license allows the restaurant to serve only beer and wine.

Rosales said he will be adding new items to the menu and wants to reopen by the end of the month.