TRiiBE culture correspondent Rome J. interviewed Gilmore back in November 2020 on TRiiBE TV’s “We Real Chicago” show. During the interview, Gilmore spoke about his experiences with Chicago’s nightlife scene and his decision to open Nipsey’s on the South Side.
“I always wanted to come back [to the South Side],” Gilmore told Rome J. “There’s something to be said about when you walk down the street and you don’t have to worry about people characterizing you, or you’re a stereotype. You’re at home.”
On March 7, Gilmore issued a statement about the fire on his personal Instagram page. The same statement was shared on Nipsey’s social media pages.
“We are heartbroken, distraught, and beyond saddened to learn of a fire that happened at Nipsey’s Restaurant & Lounge early Monday morning. We are grateful that our staff and the community are safe. We appreciate those of you that have reached out in support. Right now, we’re just trying to understand what happened and what the next steps are. Our thoughts are with all of our team members and all who are directly impacted by this devastating news,” the statement read.
The TRiiBE reached out to Gilmore on Tuesday afternoon for comment. Gilmore directed The TRiiBE to a spokesperson who could not be reached by publishing time.
According to Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), Nipsey’s has received citations dating back to December 2021. Those citations include failures to: maintain and monitor occupancy limits, display a sign which reads “Please Respect Our Neighbors, Please Exit Quietly and Do Not Litter,” and produce a logbook of all illegal activity reported or required to be reported by the Chicago Police Department.
To date, there are 13 violations total, including 12 additional charges currently under review by the city’s law department. BACP will continue to pursue disciplinary action against Nipsey’s, BACP spokesperson Elisa Sledzinska confirmed in an email to The TRiiBE on Tuesday.
A viral social media video showed a fight between two people that broke out at Nipsey’s on March 5, the Saturday before the fire. Williams was there, and said it’s unclear what started the fight. She said she’d never seen a fight at Nipsey’s before, although she has seen verbal altercations occur there before.
Prior to the fire, Nipsey’s had a scheduled hearing in front of the Mayor’s License Discipline Commission on Feb. 25. That hearing has since been postponed to Friday, March 11
Over the years, news outlets have reported multiple complaints from Ald. Michelle Harris (8th Ward) residents who live nearby. Those complaints include incidents of public urination, cars blasting loud music, gunfire, and patrons parking in private driveways. According to Block Club Chicago, some residents were also pushing for the lounge to close, and they described their experiences with the restaurant being in the neighborhood.
Williams said she never witnessed any public urination outside the lounge. However, she has experienced parking issues. She said the parking lot wasn’t large enough to accommodate weekend crowds; so finding a park in the lot or on the street was challenging.
In terms of noise complaints, she added: “It do be loud, but I mean it’s an entertainment place.”