In Illinois, a Naperville-based marketing agency’s plan for a video gambling café in Kendall County was denied by Oswego Village Board members this week after reportedly receiving a similar rejection on March 6.
The Chicago Tribune newspaper reports that earlier this week, 26-year-old Wilbur You, of You Holdings, made an appearance at a trustees meeting as a Committee of the Whole. You reportedly presented the Board with a business plan that included a revamped logo, along with exterior and interior renderings for a proposed “upscale” gambling cafe with five gaming machines.
The approximately 1,500 square foot unit at 4050 Wolf’s Crossing Road in the Village of Oswego has reportedly been vacant since being leased by The Man Store some two years ago. However, that didn’t appear to sway Board members who reportedly rejected the plan for a second time because of the location being in close proximity to both an elementary school and a high school.
Trustee Pam Parr reportedly said that she wasn’t comfortable with the location and that she envisions “a better use” for the site.
“That is one of the entrances to our town. We have been pretty deliberate in where we have allowed specifically gambling parlors and they have been off the beaten path and with a history of not being occupied,” explained Parr.
You, who is reportedly looking to obtain a gambling license and a liquor license from the village, detailed in his pitch for “Monroe’s Gaming” last month that through his Youtech & Associates marketing agency in Naperville, he has worked alongside some of the state’s largest gambling operators. The 26-year-old reportedly also told the Trustees that he would be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the gambling café.
A few years back, the rules were changed by the village and now require that owners obtain final approval from the full Village Board for video gambling establishments.
You was reportedly sent “back to the drawing board” by Village President Gail Johnson who last month was less than thrilled with the location and saw no consensus to forward the proposal to the full board, according to the news agency.