Buffalo Grove business owners implored village trustees at a recent village board meeting to adopt an ordinance restricting large events on private property.
Cody Romano, a Buffalo Grove resident and co-owner of Everything Games (404 W. Half-Day Road), told board members at the Feb. 5 meeting that the Woodland Commons He said there was a large event in the parking lot and the parking lot was filled with cars and people. , paralyzed his business and others.
“It was an impromptu, unauthorized memorial car show held at the Woodland Commons Shopping Center,” Romano said in a phone interview with the Pioneer Press. “All the parking lots were full. People were standing on top of their cars and wandering around, and there was a line for the bathroom at Mariano's house. [grocery store] The number of people was about 20 to 30 people. ”
He said the event, which took place from 1pm to 4:30pm on Saturday, drew several hundred people, and police at the scene said they were unable to disperse the gathering because it was on private property.
Romano hopes that changes.
“If someone doesn't have a permit, especially if it's an outdoor event in a parking lot, police should be able to remove that person from private property,” Romano said. That was a big safety concern. ”
He said he lost $5,000 that day after many customers called and said they couldn't park or access the store because of the crowds. He believes other nearby businesses were similarly affected.
“If someone has a gun, if someone is in danger, [and needed medical attention], Buffalo Grove Road and Route 22 were essentially unusable,” Romano said at the meeting. “We need to enact an ordinance that can actually do something about it. I really hope the people involved get fined. It was inexcusable. Luckily nothing happened. But what would happen if it happened?”
Romano spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting. The trustees took no formal action on his request because it was not part of the evening's official agenda. However, the Pioneer Press contacted the police department after the meeting about the incident that Romano blamed.
Deputy Police Chief Michael Rodriguez confirmed that the “car rally” rally was held in memory of the auto club's founder and president, who recently passed away. In a statement to the Pioneer Press, he said police had been notified that the event would be moved from another town to the Buffalo Grove venue, but only 150 to 200 people were expected to attend and officers were not on scene. He said he was there.
“As the parking lot filled up with vehicles and occupants (estimated at over 700 people), officers worked with event organizers to bring the event to an early end around 4:20 p.m., and the parking lot It was cleared within two hours.”
Police reported that this was a “very rare and one-off incident” in the village.
“Although there was a very large crowd, all interactions were friendly, courteous and cordial,” the deputy chief said.
Elizabeth Owens Schiele is a freelancer.
