Cue Fat Lady in 5, 4, 3 ...

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Apr 10, 2007 3:05PM

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.