Reality show based on Joliet native’s tropical casino venture

JOLIET – It sounds like a dream come true: a Joliet man starts a new life with his family and friends in a tropical island paradise.

But even in paradise, nothing’s perfect.

That's the premise of "Trouble in Paradise," a television reality show pilot about the trials and tribulations of Joliet restaurateur Derek Brenczewski as he struggles to open The Majestic Isle Casino in Antigua, an island in the West Indies.

“I purchased a defunct casino in the island of Antigua for 15 million bucks,” Brenczewski said. “I had no experience in the casino business, and, quite honestly, I had no idea where Antigua was. No place is more different from Joliet than Antigua.”

The pilot for the show is scheduled to premiere at 9 p.m. Sunday on Spike TV. A viewing party will be held that evening at Heroes West, 1530 Commerce Lane, Joliet, Brenczewski said.

Brenczewski said the show focuses on his crew's efforts to renovate and rebrand the casino, which he and a group of investors purchased in 2013. Brenczewski, a former owner of The Department and McBrody's, said he learned about the opportunity while trying to get video gaming licenses for the two Joliet restaurants. Both restaurants closed this year.

Soon after making the decision to move to Antigua, Brenczewski said he was approached by a producer from Giant Pirates Entertainment. The Culver City, California-based company was exploring the idea of some kind of Joliet-based reality show, possibly on the prisons.

“I’m a big advocate of Joliet, but I told them I was moving,” Brenczewski said. “When I told them the whole story, they called back and said, ‘There is nothing like this on TV. What do you think about doing a reality show?’ ”

Filming on the project started in 2013 as Brenczewski was preparing to leave The Department, which he sold to some of his former employees.

“They did a lot of the early footage in Joliet,” Brenczewski said.

While much of the series focuses on getting the casino up and running, the show also highlights the family’s adjustment to the much slower-paced island lifestyle.

“It’s a British Commonwealth,” Brenczewski said. “The only sports they play here are cricket and soccer.”

There are relatively few cars on the island. Brenczewski said he had to make accommodations to pick up and drop off many of the casino’s 55 employees, since they had no transportation.

“Antigua is a very gentle country. Everyone is real friendly here,” Brenczewski said. “Everyone picks up hitchhikers here. Back in Chicago, you’d never do that, but here I pick up everybody.”

In addition to Brenczewski and his family – wife Hallie, sons Brody, 15, and Blake, 11 – the reality show will include locals Steve Lausch, Mickey Omatto, Liz Kelly Ancel, Matt Fazio, Rob Liberty, Diana Markovich, Jim Suarez, Karen Montz, Zach Brenczewski, Mandie Brenczewski, Gil Velasquez, Larry Garvey, Kaitlin Soto and Brooke Brenczewski.

Spike will broadcast the pilot several times to determine a future time placement, Brenczewski said. If picked up, the show will start in January or February, he said.