Mobil Offers To Save More Joliet Landmarks

(The following letter was submitted to the mayor of Joliet and Joliet City Council by a Joliet businessman following Tuesday night's vote by the council 5-3 to grant Thorntons a Class B and Class C liquor licenses that will allow for on-site consumption of alcohol at its gas station that will be built this year on the city's east side, at Collins and Jackson Streets. Thorntons agreed to cover the costs to move the 1851 Casseday house to another location to save it.)

JOLIET, IL — Dear Mayor O'Dekirk and Joliet City Council Members, My name is Terry Lambert and I am a lifelong resident of Joliet. My brother, Jim, and I own and operate two gas station/convenience stores in Joliet. We have read and followed with interest the city council's deal negotiated with Thorntons that allows for the relocation of the Casseday House in exchange for a liquor license and an Illinois gaming license.

We are in the process of making a major investment at our Mobil location at the corner of Broadway and Theodore. We replaced our fuel tanks and will begin major renovations on the inside and outside of the convenience store. My family has operated at that corner for the past 63 years. In 1957, our parents, Dan and Helen, opened their Standard Oil station at that corner and we have been proud to be on historic Rt. 66 and at the entrance of the city of Joliet for so long. We may very well be the oldest operating gas station in Joliet.

The reason for this letter is to request that our business be given the same fairness and consideration. Of course, we are willing to meet or even exceed the offer that the city council accepted last Tuesday in return for a comparable deal. These proceeds could be used by the city council to save another historic landmark or toward any other worthy cause.

Sincerely,

Terry Lambert