In a concerted appeal to the Naperville City Council, local bar and restaurant owners have made a push to have the city's 15-year ban on video gambling lifted, citing economic challenges and competitive disadvantages, according to a Chicago Tribune report. Ken Eng, owner of Anthem Ale House, urged the council, "By lifting the ban and supporting local businesses, the city can help ensure that those of us who have invested in Naperville for decades can continue to thrive," highlighting that the initiative was not about altering the community's fabric but about survival in an economic sense.
Despite the plea, Naperville officials showed no immediate inclination to address the request; after public comments, Mayor Scott Wehrli initiated a prompt for council discussion on video gambling during new business, but faced silence from the council members the competition for customers from more diverse dining and entertainment options is an additional hurdle, with the construction of the Block 59 complex posing a significant competitive challenge, as shared by business spokespersons in a meeting detailed by the Daily Herald.
The surrounding areas, including parts of DuPage County and nearby towns such as Aurora and Warrenville, permit video gambling, which has led to an outflow of customers seeking establishments with gaming options. George Fiegle, owner of Danny’s Pub & Grill, lamented, "It’s frustrating to even see a new incoming gaming parlor in unincorporated Naperville on Ogden Avenue down the street, owned by someone who is not even from our city," underscoring the sentiment that local businesses could benefit from the additional revenue stream that video gambling might provide during a time when enterprises are still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic's aftereffects and facing ongoing economic pressures.
While some council members like Josh McBroom acknowledged the difficulty of getting through COVID and the subsequent economic inflation, the stance on video gambling remained one of caution, McBroom added, "I think it’s going to take a lot of work"; restaurant and bar reps, however, emphasized the urgency of the matter—Teri Feldott, general manager of Lantern Tavern, spoke of the dire straits facing her business due to the extended closure of the Washington Street Bridge, and despite city council members signaling the need for more information, mayor Wehrli did not foresee a "compelling reason" to lift the ban, a stance that, while not set in stone, casts uncertainty on the immediate future of gaming in Naperville the local establishments are now faced with the challenging task of rallying broader community support to sway council opinion.
