It’s almost a go for replacing the Gaslight

July 31, 2006
By Billy Dennis

The word I’m hearing is that everything is almost a “go” for Steve Fandel, the guy who’s trying to convert the former Gaslight II bar at the top of West Main Street Hill into a up-scale pub/eatery. As you may recall, the Peoria City Council several months ago gave tentative approval for a liquor license, but site plans for the facility still needed approval. My source says that has either happened or will happen. There was a lot of neighborhood opposition — opposition I believe was orchestrated or supported by behind-the-scenes players who wanted to kill potential competition.

The fact remains that site has been a tavern at least since the 1950s until several years ago when the owners were arrested on Drug-related charges.

Fandel — currently the MC at Fantasyland and formerly at Big Al’s — also owns Chubby’s, a tavern that will open any day now in Sunnyland. The pub will be located several doors down from the former Wild Bill’s/Uncle Al’s Steakhouse site. Plans are for the interior to be decorated with murals of rotund well-known party animals, like John Candy, Harry Caray, Chris Farley and Jackie Gleason. Chubby’s will open for service tomorrow, my source said, but not for food for several weeks.

The former Gaslight II still needs to be totally remodelled, and a new name for the place hasn’t been selected. One suggestion: “Skinny’s.”

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2 Responses to “ It’s almost a go for replacing the Gaslight ”

  1. PeoriaIllinoisan on July 31, 2006 at 3:30 pm

    Can you say Blogger Bash at Skinnys!

  2. Dave on August 2, 2006 at 9:40 am

    Seems like the residents “doth protest too much”. If some people in this town had their way, there’d be no bars or restruants at all. The City Fathers need to stop listening to these people, restrain the PD from harrassing patrons and stop “biting the tax hand” that feeds them before the City goes even further into the “financial troubles” abyss.

    I say bring back “Sonny’s on Main”! At least he ran a clean & profitable place, paid the City it’s taxes due, and help the neighborhood’s economy. Heck, he even still has the original sign, so it would take much to get-r-done.

    Dave