Sports bar could take over troubled Bar 145 space in Mount Prospect

St. Patrick's Day is quickly approaching. But at the former Bar 145, it is still Christmas.

At Tuesday's village board meeting, Mount Prospect Trustee Paul Hoefert said he was galled at the sight of Christmas decorations in the windows of the bar, located at 34 S. Main St., which closed on New Year's Day.

The bar opened with great fanfare last January. Prior to that, the building maintained a troubled existence as the Blues Bar. That closed in 2015, leaving in its wake a personal bankruptcy, a liquor license revocation and the failed promise of revitalizing the area of downtown known as the small triangle.

Village Manager Michael Cassady said Bar 145's parent company, located in Ohio, decided to close the location. “Whoever controlled the interests in the Bar 145 franchise made some corporate decisions.”

Cassady said he had what he characterized as “an unfortunate exit interview” with Bar 145's owners, Mount Prospect residents Deana and Lenny Rago. “They're residents of Mount Prospect and they invested a considerable amount of money in Mount Prospect, so we kind of wanted to get a first-hand idea from them (about) what is good, what is bad, what can we be doing to help local businesses survive and thrive.”

The Ragos, who are still paying rent, are working with a broker to secure a new tenant to sublease. The broker Chad Severson, said an agreement is near with a sports bar.

“I'm optimistic (that) we're 30 days away from bringing something to the board,” Cassady said.

Meanwhile, the Christmas decorations remain, much to the displeasure of Hoefert.

“Thousands of cars drive by that building every day and here it is two and a half months after the holidays and it still has Santa and a snowman and seasons greetings in those windows,” he said. “We're trying to market our downtown . That doesn't help.”

Cassady said he is talking to the property owner, the Ragos and the real estate broker. “It's frustrating that we can't get these people to take responsibility, especially the property owner,” he said.

However, the owner of the property, Young Kim, said he has been prohibited from entering the property by his tenant.

He confirmed that a new tenant is expected to occupy the space very soon.

Despite the property's past, Cassady said he is “very optimistic” about the new prospective tenant, given the location, the physical attributes of the building and the passion of the new operator.