Ads found throughout around the Internet claim that the Urban Myth nightclub is a place where one can enjoy “great musiq, great people and famous firewingz” — but it’s “not open to the public and not open to ignorant behavior.”
The basement party venue, located at 1610 N. Moody Ave. in Chicago, just across North Avenue from Oak Park, also claims to be closed to the public and does not offer liquor sales.
But neighbors near the venue near North Avenue say otherwise and have worked for years to get Urban Myth closed.
In 2014, the venue was issued a cease-and-desist order from the Chicago Department of Business Affairs for allegedly serving alcohol and operating as a nightclub.
But owner Omar Bryant tells Wednesday Journal that Urban Myth is a party venue for friends and that he does not charge a cover to get in or sell liquor.
North Avenue Neighbors Association (NANA) noted in its Sept. 28 newsletter that Urban Myth held at least two events that month, prompting neighbors to call police to complain about noise coming from the venue at 1 a.m. on Sept. 26.
Newsletter author and Oak Park resident Judith Alexander, a NANA co-founder, said in the newsletter that “The [Chicago Police Department’s] lack of response has been a chronic problem for years.”
Chicago Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) said in a telephone interview that the Northwest Side Community Coalition, an organization where he served as an executive board member before becoming alderman, says Urban Myth has run afoul of a city ordinance by operating as a lounge that serves food and liquor.
“Since becoming alderman and prior to my election, I spoke with Bryant twice and said that as alderman I expect him to not be operating that out of the basement, because it’s not licensed and because it presents a danger to the community,” Taliaferro said.
Taliaferro, a former Chicago police sergeant, said he called police on Bryant on Aug. 24 for shutting down part of the street in the 1600 block of North Moody Avenue for a block party. He said Bryant reached out prior to the block party and asked for the alderman’s approval and was told no.
Taliaferro also has contacted the Chicago Department of Buildings’ Troubled Buildings Unit about Urban Myth and was told that the city has launched an investigation into the matter.
Department of Buildings spokeswoman Mimi Simon confirmed in an email response to questions that “This business is operating without current business licenses and BACP Business Compliance Enforcement division will work with CPD to investigate.”
Taliaferro said he also has contacted the Chicago Department of Law to determine what enforcement action might be taken against Urban Myth.
Bryant, reached by phone, told Wednesday Journal that he has lived in the building where Urban Myth is located since 1995. Urban Myth is located in the basement of a mixed-use commercial/apartment building on the northwest corner of North and Moody avenues. Bryant said it’s just a place where his friends gather on the first Friday of the month to drink and listen to music.
“We’re not a bad group; we’re just a group of people who like disco,” Bryant said. “We don’t fight and we don’t shoot each other.”
The building was purchased in 1990 by Omar’s mother Geraldine Bryant, according to records found on the Cook County Recorder of Deeds’ website.
Omar Bryant said he and others from Urban Myth have met with neighbors to address the problems and that they frequently get together after the parties to clean up around the venue.
Bryant said Taliaferro told him that if there were any problems with the parties that he would shut the place down.
But Bryant said, “It’s not like there’s anything to shut down; it’s not a business.”
He said most of the parties draw about 15 people, mostly in their mid-40s.
Bryant acknowledged that sometimes the “DJ might get a little happy with the volume,” but added that, “We don’t pay anybody, and you don’t have to pay to get in. It’s just people coming by.”
CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com