Buffalo Grove board overrides dance club veto

Overriding Village President Elliott Hartstein's veto two weeks ago, the Buffalo Grove village board gave the green light for a dance club at eSkape Entertainment Center.

The club will occupy an area formerly devoted to laser tag. It will offer dancing on weekends for 17- to 20-year-olds one night and patrons 21 and older the other night.

The vote in favor was 4-2, with Trustees Beverly Sussman and Jeffrey Braiman providing the "no" votes.

"It was very difficult to say no," Hartstein said, adding that he has the highest regard for managing partner Bill Feldgreber and that eSkape has been an asset to the community.

However, Hartstein made his decision based on Police Chief Steve Balinski's research on similar clubs in other communities, indicating the club could attract gangs, guns and drugs.

Trustee Jeffrey Berman said he respects Hartstein's opinion but noted the village has placed some of the most onerous restrictions in its power on Feldgreber, who is required to hire two Buffalo Grove police officers to help provide security.

He added that if problems do arise, the club will simply disappear.

Trustee Lisa Stone defended her "yes" vote, saying her perspective as someone who has dealt with drugs in her family is unique to the board.

She added that while she takes Balinski's opinion seriously, "if we deferred to his decision on everything, we really wouldn't need a board."

The board also has the ability to close the club if anything goes wrong, Stone added.

"If we can't have dance at this point in our world, that's really sad," she said.

Trustee Beverly Sussman said she was very disappointed with the pictures on Facebook advertising the club, which will be called Glow on the night it's open for 17- to 20-year-olds.

"I do not consider myself a prude, but I was not happy with those pictures," she said.

Braiman said he was disturbed by the use of the name Glow because, according to the police department, it is a reference to drugs.

He also called Stone on her support, noting she based her campaign on her opposition to drugs and also off-track betting, because they would attract an undesirable element from outside the community.

"I am surprised you are not leading the opposition. If you want me or anyone else to take you seriously ... your decision is an easy one," Braiman said.

Hartstein called the question, preventing Stone from responding.

Several residents offered comment at the meeting.

Mark Stookal said his 17-year-old bowls with friends at the bowling and entertainment center at 350 McHenry Road. In Stookal's opinion, Feldgreber runs a safe and fun facility with an established track record.

Highland Park resident Margie Nyberg, a regular visitor for such events as a son's bar mitzvah, said if eSkape offers a place for teens to hang out, it will attract restaurants and stores to the Town Center mall where eSkape is located.

She warned that Buffalo Grove should not follow the example of Highland Park, which turned down Northbrook Court.

"Highland Park is very sorry they don't have that revenue," she said.

As for fears about gangs and drugs, resident Ellen DeLay said Feldgreber would be the first to close doors if the club proves unsafe.

"Unfortunately, drugs are everywhere," she said.

But, she added, a dance club would not cause her son to do drugs.

"My son and others know where to get drugs if they so choose," she said.

But resident Jeff Berg said the village should heed Balinski's warning. "Never did he say there might be problems. (He said) there will be problems," Berg said.