Liquor license hearing scheduled for East Dundee banquet hall

A hearing next month will determine the fate of a liquor license at East Dundee's Club Royal B&V, which has been the subject of repeated noise complaints over the past two years.

Operators of the banquet hall at 940 Dundee Ave. say they have recently completed several soundproofing improvements to the building in an attempt to fix the problem. Neighbor Steve Ledin, who lives 100 yards away, says he still heard and felt ultralow bass frequencies inside his home the past three weekends.

The village's liquor control commission has yet to determine what, if any, action should be taken regarding three outstanding noise violations issued against the banquet hall last year. During the hearing, scheduled 6 p.m. May 22, commissioners are expected to hear testimonies from owner Jaime Benitez, residents and police officers before deciding whether Club Royal's liquor license should be revoked, suspended or upheld.

"I can understand why both sides are frustrated," Village President Lael Miller said. "We have to go through the motions of making sure everything is covered."

Until then, police Chief Terry Mee says officials will have an opportunity to gauge the effectiveness of Club Royal's improvements during several events, including four this weekend, scheduled at the banquet hall over the next month.

Benitez, who also hired a sound engineer, said renovations to his facility included adding insulation, drywall, soffits and an extra double-door entryway. He also changed the sound system and moved equipment off the floor.

But enough is enough for Ledin, who says the ongoing improvements have not mitigated the frequent disturbances in his home.

"It's encompassing, it's surrounding, it's deep in my bones," he said. "He's had enough chances. Nothing has changed, and I don't expect anything to change. It's time for him to find a new venue."

The banquet hall received three noise complaints April 15, Mee said, two of which resulted in police asking Benitez to turn down the bass. Though no citations were issued, Trustee Kirstin Wood said she is concerned neighbors can still detect the noise.

"We've been going through this for quite some time," she said. "We shouldn't be getting complaints that result in asking him to turn the music down."

Benitez said his biggest concern is maintaining his commitment to clients who have already booked the banquet hall. Club Royal booked 82 events in 2016 and about half as many this year.

Benitez initially intended to buy the building, which was originally a car dealership, when his three-year lease expires in May. Now, he said, he's looking for an entirely new venue in East Dundee.

"I just want to finish whatever I have, be done with it and then look for another building," he said. "I think I can do good business, but I cannot do it this way. I cannot deal with all these problems."