WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderOwners of nightclub move forward with finishing touches

Owners of nightclub move forward with finishing touches

By Marissa Alter

ROCKFORD (WREX) - A proposed Rockford nightclub previously shot down by aldermen, gets new life. Tabu on East State St. got the go-ahead from the city council last night.

Two weeks ago, when aldermen rejected a special use permit for Tabu, the club's owners invited council members to swing by and check out the site for themselves. They think that may have changed some minds.

Tabu co-owner Jamey Funk and his partners weren't in council chambers Monday, but they still heard the news right away. The trio and their families watched the meeting on TV

"When the vote went through in our favor, we pretty much yelled like we just won the Super Bowl. It was pretty loud in that room."

Funk says he's thankful for the council's decision and determined not to repeat the mistakes of the site's past owners.

Tabu has to follow ten conditions laid out by the city, including hours of operation, limited capacity, and a security plan.

Funk showed us how the camera system works. "We can click on these and actually be able to move them, zoom everything in and zoom out."

13 cameras will be up and running, including one in the parking lot. "We have pretty much an eye in the sky, anywhere we want to go."

Plus, 12 security guards and two undercover officers will make the rounds.

10th Ward Alderman Frank Beach, who voted against Tabu.. still isn't convinced. He asked that the Codes and Regulations Committee review Tabu's situation in one year.

"It's costly to the city. It's disruptive to the businesses. All of that aside, the city council decided against that. I think we have a great staff, we're going to be looking at it, monitoring it, and I wish the owners well."

Tabu hoped to be in business this weekend. But the club still has to have its final inspections, so the opening's now set for mid-July.