Sonny Bono Immortalized in Groovy Illinois Nightclub
An old friend of the late Sonny Bono reports that hundreds are making the pilgrimage to see Sonny's bobcat fur vest at Groovy, a 1970s-themed nightclub in Palatine, IL. Joseph Bortz, Groovy's owner, was given the vest by Bono as a gesture of support when the club opened. Bono imbued the vest with some of his fame when he wore it over and over on the Sonny and Cher Show.
Since Bono's death in a skiing accident, the glass case containing the vest has been surrounded by flowers from fans, tributes echoing the outpouring of posthumous love at Bono's grave in California.
Bortz hopes to get Bono inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. He's already got a petition with 2,000 signatures, along with the endorsement of the mayor of Palatine. Palatine, as we all know, is America's only town with miniature golf in a funeral home.
[02/08/1998]- Directions:
- On Hwy 83/147th St. two blocks east of Hwy 50/Cicero Ave.
- Hours:
- Reported gone since 2001.
- Status:
- Gone
