Buffalo Grove eventually approves sign for OTB parlor

The owner of Buffalo Grove's only off-track betting parlor, Cy Sadeghi, is likely breathing a sigh of relief.

On Tuesday night, the village board approved changes to the sign for Adam's Roadhouse Sports Bar & Grill at 301 N. Milwaukee Ave. to reflect the business' additional use as an OTB, which will open soon after receiving approval a few months ago.

Sadeghi agreed that the removable type on the sign would only be used to advertise food and hours of operation. He originally wanted no restrictions on what he could advertise, except liquor. Some opposed using the sign to promote specific OTB races.

But approval came only after a prolonged and far-ranging discussion that saw Sadeghi slammed by Trustee Lisa Stone for past violations with the existing sign. In one example, Stone, who was reluctantly allowed by President Elliott Hartstein to question Sadeghi, noted that under an agreement when the business was annexed into the village in 2003, he was allowed to place his sign 10 inches from the sidewalk. Instead, the sign was placed six inches away. Sadeghi said he did not have any recollection about inspections, adding that he has management handle those details.

But the village of Buffalo Grove wasn't immune from blame, with the discussion revealing apparent lapses in the inspection process. The nature and extent of those lapses are unknown at this point, since the records seem to have disappeared.

"Somebody messed up. Maybe several people messed up," Trustee Jeffrey Berman said. But he said Sadeghi should not be punished for mistakes made by staff several years ago.

Likewise, most of the trustees, although not thrilled with changeable copy on signs, were willing to live with this one, noting that it has been there for years.

Trustee Beverly Sussman, however, said, she is opposed to changeable copy signs.

"The bottom line is it is still a changeable copy sign that is very tacky looking," she said.

Sadeghi defended his sign.

"I don't think that sign is tacky," he said.

Pointing out that the village asked him to annex his business, he said, "I am a good citizen. I didn't do anything wrong."

He said there are lots of changeable copy signs on Milwaukee Avenue, suggesting that if his comes down, they should all do the same. He said his restaurant's reputation has taken a beating lately from bad publicity as the OTB and sign issues were debated at village board meetings.

"I really need that sign to promote my business," he said.