Business & Tech

UPDATED: New Owner Possible for "Worst Convenience Store We Have"

Mayor Ed Zabrocki said he met with a person interested in buying Tinley 24/Seven, which is currently facing health code and liquor license violations.

A new owner is possible for a Tinley Park convenience store where village health inspectors found out-of-date bologna, eggs stored at 61 degrees and other violations after , Mayor Ed Zabrocki said.

Zabrocki said he met Tuesday with a person interested in buying the  at Oak Park Avenue and 183rd Street from its current owner, School Board President Dean Casper.

Casper confirmed a buyer and said all the violations have been handled.

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"We took care of everything. His inspectors opened it up again," Casper said.

Casper bought the business 2 1/2 years ago as a "retirement venture."

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"You have to keep an eye on it 24-7 and obviously, I can't do that," Casper said.

He hopes the sale will clear within the next few weeks.

Although the transaction is not official yet, Zabrocki said he started the process for getting the possible new owner a liquor license, a process that usually takes four to 6 weeks but could take up to an additional three months for an FBI background check. As mayor, Zabrocki is also the liquor commissioner.

"The hold-up is usually the FBI check," Zabrocki said, adding he will issue a temporary liquor license if there is an FBI delay.

On March 6, an employee of the store sold alcohol to two people under 21 according to a letter dated March 17 to Casper from the village's lawyer. In response, the store's liquor license was suspended for the dates of April 1 through 3.

But according to a police report, on the very first day of the suspension, despite a "No Alcohol Sales" sign on the counter.

Sabja Mashni, 46, of the 7700 block of 162nd Place in Tinley Park, was charged with liquor violation.

The village also sent health inspectors to the store. They found violations including outdated food including Oscar Mayer bologna, a broken freezer door and coolers well above the temperatures they should be.

"We had eggs in there at 61 degrees at one point, which is not very good for eggs," Zabrocki said. "This one got totally out of hand."

Zabrocki said the store has been fined several times for health violations in the past.

"The Village of Tinley Park is not interested in collecting fines; it wants compliance with the health laws," Zabrocki wrote in a letter dated Nov. 11, 2009 based off previous violations.

In that letter to Casper, Zabrocki referred to the store as "by far the worse Convenient Store (sic) we have in Tinley Park."

Updated April 13 with Casper's comments.


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