Oak Lawn officials revoked the business license of a children’s entertainment venue Tuesday after police reported twice finding adults partying there with alcohol and marijuana late at night.
The manager of Jermae & Jerry Play Space, 8752 S. Cicero, said the after-hour adult parties did not happen.
But the Oak Lawn Village Board unanimously voted to revoke the business license for two years, based on the recommendation of attorney Michael Cainkar, who was the hearing officer.
Vibez Concierge Transportation, doing business as Truth and Ryan Jonson, submitted applications in 2023 for a business license to offer amusement for children in the Market Place shopping center, on the southwest corner of 87th and Cicero.
During a May 17 hearing, continued to May 24, an Oak Lawn police officer testified he saw more than 100 adults dancing, playing music and partying with alcohol in and around the business at 2:50 a.m. Oct. 8, 2023. He also reported the smell of marijuana coming from the premises was “overwhelming.”
In his police report, the officer said he saw containers of different kinds of alcohol inside the business and thrown about the parking lot. The business’ license had been issued only four days prior, officials said.
The officer reported a man who said he was hosting the party and a woman he reached that night on the phone, who claimed to be one of the owners, were both uncooperative.
Karyn Baker, who said she is the manager of the business, said after the vote Jermae & Jerry is a venue for open play for children and family gatherings, such as children’s birthday, prom and graduation parties, which adults sometimes attend. Dancing, video games, Nerf wars, bingo and inflatable bounce houses are offered, but Baker denied that alcohol and cannabis are ever consumed.
However, she said she was not at the business during the early morning hours Oct. 8.
Jermae & Jerry’s business hours are listed as 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays.
At 12:45 a.m. March 3, another police officer reported seeing 15 to 20 adults entering and exiting the place with party supplies that included bottles of alcohol.
The business does not have a liquor license.
The officer said a woman there, who identified herself as an owner, said it was a 50th birthday party, but no liquor or marijuana would be consumed during the party. The woman refused the police request to inspect the premises, according to the hearing report.
In the written findings from the hearing, Karyn Baker is identified as part owner of the business. She testified she was at Jermae & Jerry’s preparing for a Sweet Sixteen party from about 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. March 2, but she was not there when the police officer arrived.
At the hearing, she showed a video of the party set-up, which appeared to be recorded hours before the officer reported seeing people smoking marijuana inside and empty alcohol bottles just outside the front door.
In his findings, Cainkar, the hearing officer, wrote, “the allegations do not involve minor transgressions or technical violations of the restrictions in the licensee’s business license. That is, we are not dealing with a situation where a few adults consumed one or two cans of beer at a family birthday party.”
On Oct. 8, 2023, and March 3, 2024, officers reported seeing ‘full blown parties attended exclusively by adults involving the consumption of alcohol and cannabis,” Cainkar wrote.
Although Baker denied alcohol or marijuana are consumed at the business, Cainkar stated, “No evidence was offered by the licensee at the hearing by way of mitigation.”
The activity on those nights did not involve any activity that could be reasonably characterized as “Kids Amusement,” Cainkar wrote.
Oak Lawn police Chief Daniel Vittorio said his officers’ body cameras recorded what they described.
Baker said if the police saw people with alcohol or marijuana, they may have been coming from or going to a nearby restaurant and banquet hall. She said her business has been harassed by the police, and accused the village of being racist.
Separate from the village’s objections to activity at Jermae & Jerry’s, the Illinois Department of Revenue posted a notice on the front door stating the business’ certificate of registration had been revoked. Oak Lawn’s attempts to find out the reason the state revoked the certificate were not successful, the village attorney said.
Kimberly Fornek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
