Joliet committee moving forward on Union Station ballroom, Crabigale's redevelopment

JOLIET – The city of Joliet has sent out a request for proposal to gauge interest from hospitality firms to fill the Grand Ballroom at Union Station once the current operator, Bussean Custom Caters, leaves in January.

Councilman Larry Hug, who chairs the Economic Development Committee, said seven events were booked past January 2017. Three have been re-booked at Bussean’s Patrick Haley Mansion in Joliet, two chose to get refunds and two are “hanging on,” Hug said, with the hope that a new company will be secured in time.

The RFP was sent out to 70 hospitality firms throughout the region, and to 17 commercial bankers for potential distribution to existing customers, according to a May 6 memo distributed this week to the Economic Development Committee.

Responses are due May 27, according to the memo.

Hug said the city will narrow its options based on company history and experience, noting that council members will want someone in Union Station for the long term.

“We’ll weed out those that we feel are a big risk,” Hug said.

In other news, the committee voted Thursday to advance a redevelopment plan that allows owners of a downtown Lemont bar and restaurant to take over the old Crabigale's site.

The new occupants, who own The Vault Cafe and Bar in Lemont, plan to put a restaurant and bar in the first floor, a small banquet facility on the second floor, and apartments in both the second and third floors.

According to the development proposal, the first floor will have the atmosphere of a “modern speakeasy,” serving American and Cajun-Creole food.

Hug said the apartments may attract college students from the University of St. Francis and Joliet Junior College to the downtown area.

The tentative plan also calls for a soft opening 10 months after the Oct. 10, 2016, purchase date. The committee last week recommended approval to the City Council.

The plan has been accepted by both parties, but project timeline dates still need to be negotiated, according to a committee memo from Economic Development Director Steve Jones.

The city owns the old Loughran Building at Chicago and Cass streets that was last used for the Crabigale's comedy club. The city in August put out requests for proposals to put the 1890 building back in use.

The city has provided an incentive package that would hand over the building, priced at $300,000, to the developer once that much money has been put into building improvements.