STONE PARK – When the property lining up next door to the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo was purchased to build a strip club, the sisters were understandably upset. But this week their prayers were answered after the Stone Park Liquor Commission revoked Club Allure strip club's liquor license.
For the sisters, as well as local residents, village officials finding that Club Allure violated an ordinance forbidding a liquor license within 100 feet of a church was a major victory. The Village of Stone Park Code of Ordinances (“Village Code”) says that “No license shall be issued for the sale of any alcoholic liquor within 100 feet of any church or school.”
The Stone Park Liquor Control Commissioner (who is also Stone Park’s Mayor) revoked the liquor license of Club Allure based on the complaint filed by Thomas More Society. Since the term “church” is not defined in the Village Code or in the Illinois Liquor Control Act, the Stone Park Liquor Control Commissioner relied upon the facts presented in a similar case in which the courts held that a convent chapel, like the three chapels located on the property of the Missionary Sisters, was a “church” based on evidence that it was open to the public for Mass, benediction, prayers and devotions and contained all the necessities for the ordinary functions of a Catholic church.
“We are hopeful that the revocation of Club Allure’s liquor license is a significant step in shutting down Club Allure permanently,” said Thomas More Society special counsel Joan Mannix.
