No Spicy Larry's Coming To Joliet's Theodore Street? Mayor D'Arcy Reveals Why

JOLIET, IL — Plans to open the Spicy Larry's Cafe on Joliet's Theodore Street at the Duck Creek Plaza have hit a snag as Mayor Terry D'Arcy is recommending the Joliet City Council reject a liquor license application for Segun Adeyemi doing business as Spicy Larry's Cafe.

"Based on the liquor hearing, the liquor commission feels that the issuance of the liquor license would not be in the best interest of the city and therefore recommends denial of the license," Mayor D'Arcy's memo noted.

The vote on the matter will take place during Tuesday night's regular Council meeting.

According to city memos, the nature of entertainment would involve music, and the liquor license applicant has no prior experience serving alcohol. It's a new restaurant business proposed in the multi-tenant Duck Creek Plaza, 3101-3111 Theodore Street.

According to the mayor's findings, "The Joliet Police Department does not recommend the issuance of this liquor license due to pending criminal felony charges for Mr. Jelili Olaniyan, who holds the original lease for this property."

The City Council packets contained the following information in preparation for Tuesday night's vote:

During the September 30 public hearing, the applicant was asked what the relationship consisted of between Spicy Larry Café and the adjoining business, O’Larry Asun Spot, LLC, located at 3109 Theodore Street.

The applicant explained that Spicy Larry Café would sell beer and liquor while O’Larry Asun Spot, LLC would be a restaurant with no beer or liquor sales. The applicant stated there was a wall separating both businesses, they hold separate addresses and have separate entrances and exits.

The Deputy Liquor Commissioners conducted a site-visit of the premises on September 30 and found there to be no separating wall between 3111 and 3109 Theodore Street and found both addresses to be constructed, decorated and held out to the public as one business entity.

The business located at 3109 Theodore Street, Joliet, is owned by Jelili Olaniyan. Mr. Olaniyan holds the original lease for the address of 3111 Theodore Street, which he sublet to the applicant, Segun Adeyemi, city of Joliet records show.

Jelili Olaniyan is currently pending Will County case number 2024CF2282 where he is charged with aggravated identity theft, a Class X felony, theft by deception, a Class X felony, two counts of theft, a class 1 felony, loan fraud, a class 1 Felony, theft, a class 2 Felony, two counts of loan fraud, a class 2 felony, three counts of wire fraud, a class 3 felony, state benefits fraud, a class 3 felony, and filing a fraudulent income tax return, a class 4 felony.

Four years ago this month, Joliet police announced that two people were arrested in connection with allegations they committed state benefits fraud by taking COVID-19 Pandemic and Paycheck Protection funds they were not eligible for.

Joliet police arrested 34-year-old Joliet resident Jelili Olaniyan and his 41-year-old wife Asia Olaniyan. They were charged with state benefits fraud.

Joliet's detectives raided the Olaniyans' house in the 1000 block of Edgerton Drive around 6:40 p.m. Oct. 7, 2021, after a Joliet police investigation "indicated that the residents, Jelili and Asia Olaniyan, were fraudulently receiving COVID 19 Pandemic and Paycheck Protection funds," authorities said.