New Lenox looks to demolish former Brun's tavern

NEW LENOX — New Lenox village officials will consider tearing down a landmark building that was once home to Brun’s Tavern and Restaurant.

More than 70 years old, the building is one of four locations the village plans to replace with new businesses in an effort to redevelop the downtown area.

Mayor Tim Baldermann said the building, which became the House of Hughes some time after it was sold in 1993, has “a lot of history” and was an “outstanding restaurant,” but needed to go. The House of Hughes has been closed for three to four years.

“It’s become an eyesore. It’ll be good to tear it down to make way for new development,” Baldermann said.

Trustees voted at Monday’s village board meeting to table the approval of a bid to demolish the building at 201 E. Maple Road, Baldermann said. He said the village received a bid to tear down four properties at once, but wanted a bid for demolishing the House of Hughes building alone.

He said the village “may not close on the [other] properties for a while.”

The other properties are the BP gas station, a dry cleaner business and the Pit Stop Bar. Along with the House of Hughes, the village plans on buying the properties and redeveloping them through a new developer.

The village outlined a plan in June to buy the BP gas station for roughly $1.6 million; the dry cleaner business for $309,000; and the Pit Stop bar for $375,000. The village bought the House of Hughes for about $505,000.

Each property is located along Route 30.

Another part of the village’s plan is to use the sales tax and other revenue sources from the redeveloped downtown to build a new train station.

Fire, police commissioners appointed

At Monday's village board meeting, Baldermann also re-appointed two members to the New Lenox Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, and appointed one new member. Trustees unanimously approved the appointments.

Garry Kraemer and Leonard Caria were re-appointed, while Brad Vinson replaced Thomas Difiori, who moved out of the village, Baldermann said.

The commission is an independent board staffed by volunteers responsible for testing, hiring, promoting, terminating and discipline for the New Lenox Police Department.