July 01--It was a tough crowd for anyone not named Tiger at Tuesday night's meeting on the future of Mariano Park.
For more than 13 years, Nemer "Tiger" Alia has run Whispers Cafe in the Gold Coast park, but his lease is up in the fall and the Chicago Park District is considering other proposals in a closed bid process. More than 100 people packed a meeting room at the Thompson Chicago hotel for the park advisory council meeting to hear from potential vendors, most of whom had rough sledding against the feisty crowd.
Alia presented last, striding in from another room to big applause, taking a populist tone and touching on elements of his personal narrative as a Jordanian immigrant starting a business from nothing.
"It's a park, not a business," Alia said. "It's for me, you and your grandkids to enjoy."
The room filled with its loudest applause of the night.
Of course, it's a business, too, and ultimately up to the Park District's board of commissioners to decide who will reap the benefit of the cozy location in a triangular plaza bordered by State Street, Rush Street and Bellevue Place.
Park District officials have declined to comment on the specific proposals but have said the Park District is "constantly seeking new ways to increase revenue" and that the concession program is a primary source for nontax revenue. A decision on the Mariano Park lease is expected this fall.
Last year, Whispers Cafe generated about $51,000 in revenue for the Park District, according to a district spokeswoman. In total, the Park District has 266 permitted concessions, from restaurants to ice cream carts, that yielded total revenue of about $2.8 million last year.
Also presenting were representatives of Gibsons Restaurant Group, Bow Truss Coffee Roasters, Alamode Foods Inc. and Frank Ruffolo of Franco's Ristorante.
For the most part, the proposals seemed aimed at keeping the park mostly as it is, a public park where coffee is sold and anyone's welcome. But two vendors -- Gibsons and Alamode Foods -- pitched the idea of expanding upon the current building's footprint.
Steven Steinberg, chief financial officer of Alamode Foods Inc., which operates Vero Coffee and Gelato in Mariano's grocery stores, mentioned the mere possibility and was met with boos and jeers.
"We're here to work with you," said Steinberg, who moments earlier had been heckled into turning off his video presentation.
Sara Roberts, spokeswoman for Gibsons Restaurant Group, which operates Gibsons Bar Steakhouse just south of the park, stressed the company's proposal was intended as a defensive move to keep liquor sales and food preparation out of the park.
Gibsons interpreted the Park District's request for proposals as a call for more revenue, Roberts said, hence its proposed 400-square-foot glass structure that would provide for year-round sales. That model stands in contrast to the 230 square feet occupied by Whispers, which operates mostly from St. Patrick's Day to Thanksgiving.
Other changes under the proposed Gibsons plan include replacing the water fountain with a smaller one, and restoring and moving the existing Whispers kiosk, which is considered historically significant, to the north end of the park or to another park altogether.
The full cost of the proposed Gibsons plan amounts to a $1.3 million investment, including about $200,000 for brick paver replacements and landscaping improvements, Gibsons officials have said. Meanwhile, Alia has said he'd commit $250,000 to grounds improvements.
Several residents said they didn't want the new building and that they'd prefer to keep the park as is. Roberts said Gibsons would be "thrilled" with that, too.
Krista Reynen, 65, who said she has lived in the Gold Coast for 24 years, said she didn't buy the sincerity of Gibsons' messaging. Reynen said she would be fine with some of the other vendors, like Bow Truss, but wanted to keep the park as is.
"They just want it because they can have it and they have the money," Reynen said of Gibsons.
Douglas Ekman, 73, said he was conflicted because he appreciated Gibsons as a company, but also respected Alia and wanted to keep the park the same. Over the years, he said, he's met more than 60 people at the park, including some of his "dearest friends."
"If it's not broke, don't fix it," Ekman said. "And we have a park that works."
At the end of the night, Peter Spiros, president of the neighborhood's park advisory council, was voted out of office. In a past interview, Spiros expressed affection for Whispers but also said there's real benefit to the Gibsons plan.
He was replaced by John Rudnick, who started the Save Mariano Park online campaign to keep Whispers Cafe in the park.
After the vote, Spiros said he'd be stepping down altogether from the council, which is recognized by the Park District.
"I tried to do it the right way," he said. "That's it."
gtrotter@tribpub.com
