By: Michael Volpe
Chicago Elections 2011
This is the first in a three part series to run all week of the story of the rise and fall of Tony Demasi, the former owner of two of Chicago’s hottest nightclubs, Reserve and Crescendo.
One night during the heyday of the refinancing boom, Alderman Walter Burnett, once a car thief and now the Alderman of the 27th Ward, was having a few drinks in the then new staple of Chicago’s nightclub scene Reserve, which just happened to be located in the West Loop neighborhood of his ward. It was relatively early in the evening. Not too many folks were yet around but one was the owner, Tony Demasi.
“Tony, I’ve got a great valet guy you can use,” said Burnett.
“Thanks sir, but I’m happy with my valet guy,” Demasi responded.
“He is the valet guy all the businesses use in MY ward,” Burnett responded.
“My valet guy is also a friend of mine so I think I’m fine sir,” Demasi countered.
“He will be here tomorrow at 6,” Burnett insisted.
Tony Demasi had a problem. He was being shaken down by an alderman who’d once stolen cars for a living. When Burnett was in his teens, he was the look out for a car theft ring. Upon getting out of Cook County Prison, he got into politics and was now an alderman. His story is generally viewed as one of redemption. Another way to look at it is that Burnett figured out that the real gangsters were in politics and Demasi was getting a first hand look at this sort of gangsterism.
