A popular gay nightclub in Oak Park has been destroyed in what police say may have been an anti-gay arson.
The Velvet Rope Ultra Lounge, 728 Lake St., was ravaged by a fire in the early morning hours of June 3.
According to Oak Park Police Commander Phyliss Howard, the fire broke out at approximately 6:25 a.m. Police are investigating the incident as an arson, possibly motivated by anti-gay hate.
"There was some graffiti that would leave us to believe…that it might be either a hate crime or something of that sort," said Howard.
According to police, businesses on both sides of the club were damaged but are able to re-open. The Velvet Rope, however was badly burned.
"The fire was extinguished within minutes, but the interior of the building sustained significant damage," said police in a statement.
No injuries were reported in the fire, and no one was in custody as of June 4.
Requests for comment from owner Frank Elliot were not immediately returned.
No one is in custody for the arson.
The investigation is ongoing.
Windy City Times will update as details become available.
