Oak Lawn (CEC) Chuck E Cheese Admits that NEGRO VIOLENCE destroyed their Oak Lawn Location

The Village of Oak Lawn announced hours before a special board meeting had been scheduled to discuss possible disciplinary proceedings for CEC Entertainment that the company had initiated a discussion to move its troubled Chuck E. Cheese’s franchise out of Oak Lawn.

Mayor Sandra Bury and Tr. Terry Vorderer (Dist. 4) had called the special board meeting to discuss moving forward with a public hearing for possible suspension or revocation of the restaurant’s village business license.

The special board meeting was called in the wake of a Chicago patron who was shot in traffic in Evergreen Parkblocks away from the restaurant in the Kmart-anchored shopping center at 4031 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn.

According to Evergreen Park police, the man was shot twice in the lip and lower back after unknown gunmen approached his car at 95th Street and Pulaski, then pursued him eastbound into Evergreen Park. The man told police he had just left Chuck E. Cheese’s. Two young children were also in the vehicle that was being shot at. He has since stopped cooperation with the police investigation.

In October, CEC executives presented a beefed-up public safety plan at the restaurant which throughout the years has has been the scene of many physical and verbal altercations requiring police intervention.

Oak Lawn trustees voted 4-2 to give the troubled restaurant one more chance to get control of ongoing public safety issues at the restaurant.

The special board meeting was called off just a few hours before it was set to begin Wednesday evening. The village instead released a written statement announcing that CEC Entertainment had contacted the village to say it has initiated discussions to move out of Oak Lawn.

“In light of this, the village is presently working out an agreement that will make the process as expeditious as possible prior to calling for further disciplinary proceedings,” the village’s statement said.

Vorderer, in whose fourth district the restaurant is located, said there were no winners with Chuck E. Cheese’s decision to leave Oak Lawn.

“I and the mayor, along with staff and lawyers worked many hours over the last few days to minimize damage to all parties involved, including the Village of Oak Lawn,” he said. “CEC is a good company that provides entertainment opportunities for many families. Unfortunately, they’re caught up in major societal issues.”

Bury said it’s the best outcome for all parties. Many of the people who work at the village’s Chuck E. Cheese’s are long-time employees. The mayor said CEC planned to transfer the Oak Lawn employees to other locations.

“We are excited to work with them on an expeditious transition out of Oak Lawn,” Bury said. “It is likely the board will discuss the matter next week.”