Businessman Cancels Plans For 'Party Fantasy' Center
MUNDELEIN, Ill. (WBBM) -- A Mundelein businessman has thrown up his hands and decided not to open an indoor family entertainment center -- after spending more than $1 million over the past nine months to build it and hiring a staff of 50.
A 2-1/2 month dispute has owner Adi Mor scratching his head and filled with frustration.
"Every day they come up with something," he said.
At first, Mor's "Party Fantasy" center appeared to be a shoo-in. The analysis by the Mundelein village plan commission staff said Mor is community minded, that "Party Fantasy" would be like nothing else in the area and noted Mor's past generosity to the community as owner of the Garden Fresh supermarket.
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More said staff members were trained in CPR and first aid. He said questions about liquor at the center, which was also to be rentable for corporate parties, were discussed and settled.
The 34,000-square-foot entertainment center, built in a second floor space that had been vacant for 15 years, won unanimous plan commission approval in May. But Mor said that within days the disputes began, at first over the building's address.
Mor filed under 340 Townline Rd., the address on the front of the building and the address used by the Salvation Army store on the first floor. Mor said village officials insisted that the second floor had a different address -- 342 Townline Rd. He said they tore up his special use permit, and told him it would have to be refiled and new hearings scheduled.
Then, he said, inspectors suddenly began to find a series of problems -- each small, but often time consuming and expensive. He said earlier this week, a three-week delay in getting new permits for an existing elevator, which he said had already been certified this summer as safe, was the final straw.
Now, he said, he is convinced that Mundelein village officials never wanted Party Fantasy to open.
"I give up," he said. "I don't need it for a living. It was like a dream thing I wanted to do. I wanted to do something beautiful for the community."
Instead, Mor said, he now plans to take a vacation to clear his head. The staff has been sent home, scheduled parties canceled, and the dance floor, karaoke, electric go-karts, climbing wall and room filled with giant inflatables will sit unused. He has not yet taken down the Web site, and the phones remain connected.
WBBM Newsradio is attempting to obtain comment from Mundelein Village Administrator John Lobaito.
