Crime & Safety

Velvet Rope Owner Quashes Rumors After Club Fire

Frank Elliot calls various online accusations "unfortunate."

The owner of the is lashing out at detractors who've spread allegations that he was somehow involved in damaging the gay-friendly club.

The comments were apparently made on the Facebook site promoting Thursday's fundraiser, the proceeds of which will help employees who've been out of work since fire broke out at the club, 728 Lake St., in the early hours of June 4.

Earlier:

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Outside his boarded-up club on Friday, owner Frank Elliot told Patch the online forum was moderated to remove accusations that the fire was "an inside job.

"[The comments] were definitely inappropriate," he said. "They've been removed, thank God."

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Hours after the fire, Elliot told WGN News he was "beyond shocked" to find graffiti on the club's walls, leading him to believe the fire may have been a hate crime. Those messages were later removed, and investigators also removed a slab of interior wall containing a hand print.

In a separate report, Elliot and his attorney declined to speak with WGN after visiting the for a brief interview with investigators.

Law enforcement officials in Oak Park haven't released much information since issuing a terse press release listing arson as the possible cause of the fire. On Thursday, the fire was officially ruled an arson.

"At that point it becomes a crime scene and we turn it over to the police," said Oak Park Fire Chief Tom Ebsen.

Police in Oak Park did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Meanwhile, the fundraiser is drawing ever more support. It's scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Hidewaway Nightclub, 7301 W. Roosevelt Road in Forest Park. Details.

And as the investigation unfolds, Elliot is working to open a new nightclub in Lakeview, Bonsai Bar & Lounge, Oak Leaves reports.


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