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The fight between one River North bar and local residents who oppose it turned ugly when someone spray-painted the N-word on the building last week. Now the bar’s managers are hosting a protest to speak out against what they are calling “silent segregation” in the neighborhood.
Since Nouveau Tavern opened in River North in October of 2013, nearby residents have complained of noise, broken glass, rowdiness and alleged drug activity. Some complained to the city and the area’s alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd).
But the bar’s managers don’t believe noise and rowdiness are what’s upsetting residents. They say the backlash is “racially motivated.”
The tavern’s supporters became more suspicious of this last Thursday after Nouveau employees arrived to the tavern that morning to find “N—– go home” spray-painted on the side of the building.
Nouveau Tavern has black owners and serves a mostly African-American clientele. River North is a predominately white affluent neighborhood near the Loop.
“I believe in my heart of hearts these people have a problem with an African-American person walking on the streets,” marketing manager for the tavern Teddy Gilmore told DNAinfo in early August. “I’m not going to say the whole neighborhood — one lady admitted that she’s done 30 or 40 of the 70 complaints (to police).”
Gilmore and the tavern have gone back and forth with community members at local meetings over the issues. Gilmore said the bar has done all it can to comply with residents’ requests, but Thursday’s incident demonstrated there may be larger social issues at play.
Gilmore posted a video on Facebook Tuesday announcing a candlelight protest “against inequalities and promote more diversity in River North.”
Gilmore called on supporters to join him at 8 p.m. at the tavern to demonstrate.
“Let’s stand together for something! The tale of two cities has gone on for to long,” he wrote in the Facebook post.
The spray-painting incident happened just blocks from Ald. Reilly’s River North office, but the alderman has not commented on the issue.
Reilly has been supportive of community members against the tavern, helping residents submit complaints about the tavern and reaching out to police.
@DeDeBird13 @NouveauTavern @RiverNorthChi @LiebermanMgmt I'll be following up w police commander today – we've been reporting incidents too.
— Brendan Reilly (@AldReilly) April 7, 2014
@BanNouveau This week, neighborhood residents will be receiving a very detailed update on actions being taken w local problem establishments
— Brendan Reilly (@AldReilly) May 17, 2014
Chi-Town Review reached out to Ald. Reilly’s office Thursday about the graffiti. A spokesperson said someone would get in touch with Ch-Town Review, but no one has contacted the site as of Tuesday.
