A DuPage County judge has again ordered a massage parlor near Glen Ellyn to close because, authorities say, prostitution is run at the business.
Spa 53, located in a mall at Illinois Highway 53 and Butterfield Road, has had several run-ins with the law over the last two years, including arrests for prostitution. The company that owns the mall has sued to evict the business from the premises.
Through it all, the business has managed to survive. Last month, lawyers effectively argued that a previous order to shut it down was invalid because owners did not receive proper notice of the ruling.
But the order filed Thursday in DuPage County court seeks to take away any ambiguity about the future of Spa 53. DuPage County Judge Ronald Mehling ordered the spa closed by Tuesday, calling it a “public nuisance.”
“The owners are permanently enjoined from operating, transferring or relocating the business to any place in DuPage County,” Mehling said in his order.
Authorities say that many times owners of such businesses move frequently in an attempt to elude authorities. DuPage prosecutors argued that the business violated zoning ordinances because it is adult-oriented.
“This latest action is just another in a series of going after places that open up with the intent of violating the law, and that’s what occurred in this place,” said State’s Atty. Joseph Birkett.
DuPage authorities have closed 14 such spas.
The lawyer for the landlord said his clients were hopeful that this ruling would mean the eviction of Spa 53.
“We are very pleased they are leaving,” said Anthony Barone, an Oak Brook attorney who represents United Investors Inc. of Chicago.
Representatives from Spa 53 were not available for comment.
