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Put Down Your Nanowrimo And Leave The House
Sox Shuffle Continues
Now this is just wrong.
Jimbo's, the Bridgeport tavern that's been catering to Sox fans for over twenty years, must close its doors by April 30th. The deadline was imposed by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Sheldon Garber, who ruled that he found no evidence owners Jimbo and Joyce Levato had an oral agreement with building owners Raymond and Donna Degrazia to extend their lease. Judge Garber's ruling ends months of litigation between the Levatos and Degrazias, who gave Jimbo's its eviction papers last summer. This prompted the lawsuit and subsequent petition drives by the Levatos to keep their bar open.
In the months since the Levatos received their eviction notice, there's been speculation about the Degrazias own motives behind evicting the Levatos. Specifically, that the Degrazias are looking at opening their own sports bar in Jimbo's space, capitalizing on the increase in Sox Park attendance the past two years. Donna Degrazia's family and business connections have also come under scrutiny. DeGrazia attorney Douglas Belofsky asked Judge Garber to order the Levatos out immediately, saying that his cleints feared "another Disco Demolition Night", only on a smaller scale and directed at their property. In giving the Levatos until the end of the month to clear the premises, Judge Garber cited the Levatos long tenure in the neighborhood, but also cited the closings of Macy Field's, Carson Pirie Scott, and the Berghoff in his ruling as examples of how "things change. And Bridgeport is certainly changing."
Not that anyone was soliciting our advice on the matter, but we could have told the Levatos that they didn't have much of a chance once they received the eviction notice, regardless of who the Degrazias know. Oral contracts are hard - if not impossible - to prove.
Bridgeport is changing, alright. Just not in ways that some would hope.
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Good riddance! Place is disgusting, staff horrible and the regulars beat up suburban Sox fans. Murphy's bleachers, this isn't. The memory of Jimbo's will be cleanly, quickly and permanently wiped from the history of Chicago.
This whole thing is absolute horseshit. Ray DeGrazia thinks he's going to capitalize on people moving to Bridgeport from Michigan by opening his own bar where Jimmy Levato sweated his nutsac off for the last 23 years. Bull. Shit! The only time people from Michigan come to Bridgeport is via the Red Line and that's to see the Tigers play. Okay, fine, I will stop swiping at Michigan for the rest of this post. The point is, Bridgeport is not turning into any version of Wrigleyville until we all die in the nuclear holocaust. And even then, I think it would be a stretch.
I suggest to those of you who appreciate the small to boycott the Connie's Pizza any time you see it - they are the DeGrazia's and they've gotten nothing but rich off of working people like you and I.
In the words of Colangelo in Bronx Tale: "yo pops, Sonny was right, the workin' man's a stiff." It's always the Italians fucking each other over.
Another Disco Demolition would be great, particularly if it were aimed at the DeGrazia property! Assholes!
I think you mean the closing of Marshall Field's dear.
It is Macy Field's now.
I hope they got you PW you whiney suburbanite. I hope you get your ass kicked at bleachers by someone from Michigan blah wah blah !@!
Newsflash: there have been 18 squad cars out in front of Jimbos for every home game since that loudmouth (from Michigan no less) Simonson shot his mouth of to some kids and got what he deserved!
Please don't turn Bridgeport into Wrigleyville, Please don't turn Bridgeport into Wrigleyville, Please don't turn Bridgeport into Wrigleyville, Please don't turn Bridgeport into Wrigleyville...
Long-time Bridgeport resident here. Bridgeport thankfully remains very different from Wrigleyville and should stay that way for years to come. Jimbo's lease expired, so they had to go. BFD. That's what happens when you rent the space for your business.
this is called progress. jimbo's was a dump and their case was ridiculous. also, that other guy's obsession with michigan is odd and disturbing
Yes, it may be disturbing, but so is seeing your city taken over by people yapping on cell phones while driving cars with blue license plates and acting like they own the joint. This is my city, and I will not back down to anyone just passing through. They are ignorant and think the city exists purely for their entertainment. I'm sorry but, show my city some fucking respect or you suburban heir to the Ford Family wannabes ought best go back to their lily white homes in the suburbs of Detroit, way out of the way of all those scary colored folks. BOO!
maurice has made the only comment here that makes any sense at all. i hate to sound like some sort of capitalist pig, but the lesson here is, if you don't want to be laid off, start your own business. if you don't want to be evicted, buy the building. simple as that.
and as far as italians f-ing over italians, well, blacks will do it to blacks, irish to irish, etc. it's all about money.
I live in Bridgeport, I have been going to Sox games all of my life, and I have been to Jimbo's once or twice. It is just another corner tavern. Not a bad place, but not a great one either. Anyone that acts like this is the end of an institution is taking themselves way too seriously.
McCuddy's...now that was a place that all of you phonies masquerading as South Siders would have loved. And yes, they even sold Old Style in cans there. Totally Old School.
What's the deal with ripping on Michigan? It's a nice to place to visit on the weekends.