On April 8, 2025, Oak Brook residents were shocked to learn that village leadership proposed that a non-resident catering company takeover the Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Clubhouse. The plan presented on April 8 would have empowered Chic Chef Catering, Inc. (“CC”) to enlarge the OBBT Clubhouse, install 120 parking spots and build new locker rooms under a 30-year disguised lease. The document was entitled “Addendum” (and not entitled “lease”) to enable CC to avoid paying taxes to the York Township Assessor. Under the proposed legal structure, CC avoids paying taxes due DuPage County taxing bodies, school districts and the Oak Brook Park District.

With just two days (or less) notice, Oak Brook residents rose up and spoke against the CC proposal at the April 8, 2025 village board meeting. Residents argue that the CC proposal violates the deed to the 262-acre Sports Core and the purpose of the Sports Core (which residents purchased from Paul Butler in 1977).

Notwithstanding populist objections, village leadership (the Village President and three village trustees who benefit from the President’s PAC) continued to push the CC deal. The deal has changed over the summer, and in fact was revised just hours before the last village meeting on July 23, 2025. At that July 23 meeting, many more residents spoke against the revised CC proposal, which is now a 20-year disguised lease with two five-year extensions. The latest proposal would enable CC to begin constructing a large stark white banquet hall where the OBBT Clubhouse now stands.

To counter this takeover, Oak Brook residents have formed “Friends of Oak Brook Sports Core, Inc.” The mission of this non-profit group is to protect, maintain and improve the Oak Brook Sports Core. To accomplish this mission, FOBSC sued the village, CC and related entities on July 23, 2025. The complaint’s seven counts seek to enforce the 1977 deed to the Sports Core, zoning regulations and municipal law.

FOBSC is funded by Oak Brook residents. We are community volunteers. We value the open land bequeathed to the village in 1977. We believe the land should remain in perpetuity for the purposes expressed in the 1977 deed:

“It is the express intent of the Grantor, and the agreement of the Grantee, that …that the real estate be preserved as one whole parcel, for open green areas, natural wooded areas, sports, recreational, flood control, storm water management, and other such public uses.”

Enabling private commercial use of the Oak Brook Sports Core would open the floodgates to future development of our beautiful open green space.