Palatine club's liquor license in jeopardy over felony conviction

The liquor license for Idols Sportzclub in Palatine is in jeopardy following the owner's felony conviction on criminal damage to property charges.

In March, a Lake County judge found Michael Koumandarakis, 47, of Lake Barrington, guilty of felony criminal damage to property exceeding $300, and misdemeanor battery, court records show.

Convicted felons in Illinois typically can't hold liquor licenses and village ordinance prohibits it. Palatine's Local Liquor Control Commission on Wednesday voted unanimously to revoke the bar's liquor license unless Koumandarakis successfully appeals his conviction by Nov. 23.

The village also claimed Idols, established in 1994 at Rand and Dundee roads, failed to comply with a 2002 order that outlined a number of conditions to keeping its liquor license due to dozens of earlier violations.

For example, employees failed to check their cell phones with management while working and continued drinking alcohol with patrons, Village Manager Reid Ottesen said.

Idols also didn't implement gang awareness programs in coordination with the Palatine Police Department, he said.

Koumandarakis' Rosemont attorney, William Mantas, said the petition to appeal the conviction has already been filed and that Idols will continue to operate normally in the meantime.

"In the event that the felony is no longer of record, there won't be any issue regarding he license," Mantas said.

Still, the order voted on Wednesday states the village can pursue revoking the liquor license - even if the felony is overturned - should there be future violations at Idols or the bar doesn't comply with the 2002 order.

According to court records, Koumandarakis' son was having a dispute with some people, and invited them to the family's Lake Barrington home for a confrontation on June 8, 2008. Records say that when the people drove up Michael Koumandarakis ran to the car with a walking stick, busting out windows and breaking off the rear view mirror.

Koumandarakis was originally charged with felony aggravated battery, but the judge convicted him of the lesser misdemeanor charge, records show.

He was sentenced to 18 months probation and must pay $1,000 in restitution and complete 125 hours public service.

Koumandarakis' wife referred calls for comment to his attorney.

• Tony Gordon contributed to this report.