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Residents urge Highwood to let Teddy O’Brien’s reopen as council says legal issues complicate talks
Summary
Dozens of residents urged the Highwood City Council to allow Teddy O’Brien’s to reopen, presenting a petition they say has "just over 1,300 signatures." City staff said prior legal filings and a lack of good-faith cooperation from stakeholders have slowed negotiations.
Dozens of residents urged the Highwood City Council on May 19 to let Teddy O’Brien’s, a longtime live-music venue, reopen, saying the bar is central to the city’s nightlife and economy.
“Teddy O’Brien’s has garnered, just over 1,300 signatures,” said Ted Bannick during the public comment period, citing a petition he said he began to demonstrate community support for returning the venue to active service. Several other residents described memories and economic spillover from live shows and asked the council to place the matter on a future agenda for fuller discussion.
Supporters from across the region told the council that Teddy’s once drew visitors who spent at nearby restaurants and shops. “We need live entertainment,” one resident said, arguing that the town’s identity and small-business traffic depend on venues that host music year-round.
City staff acknowledged the council’s stated preference for hospitality and live music but said legal and cooperation issues have complicated progress. “To be clear, this property will not be included in the adjacent development projects,” a city staff member said, and added that an affidavit filed by one prospective operator “did not tell the truth about our verbal discussions,” which the city said hindered its ability to collaborate in good faith with the applicant and the property owner, Rocky Leonardi.
Council members did not take formal action on the reopening during the meeting. The mayor reminded residents that non-agenda public comments are a one-way forum and said the city will follow formal procedures when an applicant brings a fully developed proposal to the council.
Speakers at the meeting emphasized both cultural and practical reasons for reopening. Musicians described Teddy’s multiple indoor and outdoor stages and said the venue provided opportunities for local performers and touring acts. Local business owners and longtime patrons said the bar helped sustain foot traffic that benefits restaurants and shops.
City staff said they have attempted multiple meetings with the property owner and past operator over recent years and described a history of legal proceedings tied to the location. Staff urged that any renewed effort must include good-faith cooperation from the operator and property owner to move toward permitting and licensing reviews.
The council did not set a date to consider a specific application for Teddy O’Brien’s during the meeting. Residents asked that the operator be placed on a future agenda so the council can evaluate a formal proposal and the conditions needed to allow live music while ensuring public safety and regulatory compliance.
