A $38 million road-widening project in DuPage County is proving that Diamonds are not forever.
On Monday, Judge John Elsner ruled to condemn the land where Diamonds Gentlemen's Club resides, The Chicago Sun Times reports. The Illinois Department of Transportaion plans on expanding North Avenue at Powis Road, taking 5,500 square feet from the club's land and part of the building.
At a recent hearing, club owners On Stage Productions claimed state officials didn't show that seizing the land was necessary for the expansion and said the Diamond's area was being unfairly focused on because it's a strip club.
Eisner denied the arguments, stating there was no evidence to support the claims.
State officials offered the owner of Diamonds $687,000 but did not receive a response, IDOT attorney Richard Redmond told the Sun-Times.
Owners were sent a 90-day notice by the court to vacate the premises, but the Near West Chicago club won't shut down right away, attorneys said.
Diamonds is a 5,100-square-foot gentlemen's club featuring nude dancers. It does not serve alcohol to patrons. Club goers were once allowed to bring their own beverages into the building until a deadly car crash in 2006 changed the rules.
The demolition of the club would result in North Avenue expanding to six lanes, as well as improvements in sewers and drainage.
