Chicago South Shore Business Owner On Bally’s McCormick Casino Bid: ‘We Can’t Be Afraid’

Businesses on the Southside of Chicago are fully supporting one of the five casino proposals, Bally’s McCormick Place.

Bally’s has made a conscious effort to involve local businesses in its bid for the Illinois casino license by implementing its Community Rewards Program. During the event, attendees were able to buy gift cards and earn reward points for neighboring small businesses.

In a letter published in multiple Chicago publications, Jennifer Barnes, the owner of South Shore Brew, and Sara Phillips, the owner of Chef Sara’s Cafe, shared their thoughts.

“We are seeking strategic allies to help us during this period of recovery and growth. We need friends who are willing to support us in rebuilding with our small businesses and local residents. Chicago is the perfect example of such an ally, Bally.”

However, not everyone supports the idea of a casino on the southside, as stated by local Alderman Sophia King (4th).

I believe that utilizing this new profit stream to alleviate Chicago’s financial obligations is important, but not at the detriment of our communities, especially those who are less fortunate.

In contrast, Barnes has a unique viewpoint and shares with Play Illinois:

We should always be enthusiastic about investments in the community. It is important to understand the potential benefits, but we should also celebrate deliberate funding. Let’s not be afraid, but rather excited for the opportunities that come our way.

And so on:

“I believe this also applies to Black communities. We need to reconsider the definition of options. How can we actively participate in and shape the conversation, despite the presence of external investors? There are many individuals with ideas and visions in our neighborhoods, right? But how can we guarantee our involvement in the implementation of these ideas?”

a different strategy than Bally & rsquo and Rivers?

As the Chicago casino license process continues, we are gaining insight into how different bidders are engaging with the community.

The McCormick proposal suggests that Rivers Chicago is located slightly north of the Bally & rsquo in a related area.

Despite this, Barnes confirmed that he had not heard from Rivers at all during the procedure. It seems that Bally is rallying support to bring in as many people and companies as possible as Mayor Lightfoot’s decision approaches.

Examining the five blackjack ideas from Chicago

The city is currently reviewing five game requests, with two from Bally’s, two from Rivers, and one from Hard Rock.

The suburbs and names they reside in are as follows:

• McCormick Place on the South Shore, Bally & rsquo
• The Chicago Tribune Publishing Center is located in Bally on the near north side.
• Rivers McCormick, located close to the southern border.
• Rivers 78 services the Chinatown and South Loop neighborhoods.
• Hard Rock One Central is located on the south side.

The One Main development is a philosophical project that has not yet received billions in state financing, making the Hard Rock proposal seem the least likely at this time.

subsequent actions in the procedure

Lightfoot has expressed her goal of choosing a winning bid by the end of the second quarter of this year, indicating that the decision should be made no later than the end of March.

The city will submit an application to the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) along with the selected bidder. Approval of the bidder’s application by the IGB is required for the issuance of the license and the commencement of construction.

The IGB has been sluggish in processing applications for various casino licenses, sometimes taking more than twenty years to approve them.

Lightfoot has been pushing the IGB to expedite the process for the Chicago casino license, but currently, the board is unable to take action. A major decision that will impact communities across Chicago is looming on the horizon for Lightfoot.