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* The invaluable Mark Brown…
Many Chicago politicians have gotten the itch through the years to try their hand at the restaurant and bar business in hopes of having a place of their own to eat and drink with friends and play the big shot.
What distinguishes Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski from the others is that he used taxpayers’ money to get his own place.
As the mayor of McCook, the least populous town in Cook County, Tobolski led an expensive renovation of a village-owned “pub” into what its website describes as an “upscale dining establishment mixed with a classic social club.” […]
“It’s like a boys club. They treat this place like their basement,” said Autumn Pippenburg, who worked as food and beverage director for the McCook Athletic & Exposition Center, known as “The MAX,” and its adjoining restaurant, Alta Grill.
By Pippenburg’s account, Tobolski used the taxpayer-subsidized dining spot as his private hangout, often staying past closing time to drink with pals while running up tabs he sometimes didn’t pay. Tobolski regularly went behind the bar to pour himself a drink or wandered into the kitchen to order up items not on the menu — and insisted the restaurant always be prepared to serve him his favorite dish: grilled octopus, she said.
Prior to her job at The MAX, Pippenburg ran a staffing agency that supplied women to sell and cut cigars at Casa de Montecristo, a Countryside cigar lounge which has been mentioned in federal search warrants and was a Tobolksi hangout.
The entire Brown column is a must-read because he tied several strings together, often with Pippenburg’s help.
There’s also Rick Heidner’s Gold Rush Gaming, which supplies the video gaming equipment to The Max. Both Heidner and his company were featured in Sen. Martin Sandoval’s indictment. Sebastian Jachymiak and his Technicraft Inc. auto body shop make an appearance, as does Simo “Sam” Krneta, who was found guilty of battery in an alleged sexual assault of Pippenburg. Omar Maani of SafeSpeed LLC was a regular, Brown tells us. And he gives us a couple of tantalizing previews of what might be to come.
Mark is invaluable because he’s the rare newspaper columnist who thinks like a reporter. He did it again with this piece.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 10:49 am
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Previous Post: The governor should stop using state resources to support a ballot issue
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“Paulie owned the cab stand… “
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 11:05 am
The MAX has forever sullied the good name of the teen hangout on “Saved By The Bell”.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 11:11 am
Rich, I agree with your praise of Brown and I also want to thank you for never hesitating to credit other writers.
Comment by Perry Noya Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 11:12 am
Sorry, if this were real corruption, it would involve a strip club.
Comment by Anon Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 11:13 am
Sandoval’s indictment? I think there is a typo
Comment by Dozer Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 11:14 am
You would think they would learn. By having a central hangout, they make it easier to collect all the information on what they’re up to.
Comment by Fav human Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 11:38 am
Anon @11:13 am - the Feds sought info on the All Star bar in its raid of the McCook offices, which is just down the street from the MAX. The All Star bar looks unassuming from the outside but my understanding is that it is a lingerie bar with a special room in the back. Lots of stories about a certain mayor/county commish ending his evenings at the All Star Bar.
Comment by Ally McBeal Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 11:38 am
To make matters worse, Tobolski would use The Max to hold private concerts by his favorite band, The Zack Attack.
Comment by Twirling Towards Freedom Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 11:40 am
Gross. Not sure I believe Ms. Pippenburg’s Chitown Showgirlz Inc. provided professionally attired women, but still gross.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 11:50 am
Ally McBeal - Thank you. Now I am interested in this story.
Comment by Anon Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:06 pm
Several years ago I was at this facility for a volleyball tournament for my daughter, besides the multiple people they had collecting parking fees (which was a bit unusual) it wasn’t that remarkable of a facility.
It certainly wasn’t a place you would think of for going to for any type of ‘dining experience’
Comment by OneMan Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:11 pm
A note to the authorities and media: Operation Grilled Octopus is the only logical name for this ongoing investigation.
Comment by Rich Hill Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 12:37 pm
=== Mark is invaluable because he’s the rare newspaper columnist who thinks like a reporter. He did it again with this piece.===
Truly gifted in not losing that, but we are the ones who reap that gift. Great piece, restaurant quality.
Now, the “artist”, formally known as “Statehouse Chick”, she goes about columns flat out ignoring anything she ever learned as a passable reporter and writes columns her own past reporting can refute.
It’s works like this with Brown you realize what a great work this is when paired with a reporter’s skill.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:08 pm
Mark Brown is one of the reasons I pay for the Sun-Times digital subscription. The combination of his reporter’s skill, his writing, and his long memory is immensely valuable.
Comment by Keyrock Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 2:37 pm
Not only the corrupt politicians but also the corrupt business owners should be in jail. The corruption here in Illinois is off the charts.
Comment by Corruption in Illinois Monday, Oct 28, 19 @ 3:08 pm
“Try the veal, it’s the best in the city.”
Comment by Milonovich Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 5:55 am
Autumn is not the most credible person. Quite the colorful past. A few smart google searches can expose that, which would make the information she supplied extremely questionable.
He should have just interviewed Mark Furman for this piece.
He and Autumn have about the same credibility.
Comment by People in Glass Houses Tuesday, Oct 29, 19 @ 7:23 am