DuPage GOP chair Coyne says Shoeless Joe’s Ale House & Grille dropped July 4 event after complaints tied to GOP affiliation: ‘Republicans don't do this’
Kevin Coyne, DuPage County Republican Party chair, accused “radical liberal activists” of pressuring Shoeless Joe’s Ale House & Grille in Addison to withdraw as the venue for the party’s planned Fourth of July celebration after the restaurant reportedly received complaints tied to the event’s political affiliation.
“It was a disappointing experience,” Coyne told the DuPage Policy Journal. “It's ridiculous, it's juvenile and it's sad that our politics have gotten to this point, that the Democrats are going to bully private business away from even accepting business from Republicans.”
Coyne’s comments came after the DuPage GOP announced the venue change in a social media post, saying the restaurant asked the organization to find a different location after receiving complaints about hosting a Republican event.
“Announcement: Apparently because some Democrats called and complained to Shoeless Joes in Addison that they were allowing a Republican 4th of July event to be hosted at their venue, the venue has asked that we host our event elsewhere. We will happily accommodate. We are still having our event on June 24 but this event will not be held at Shoeless Joes (nor will any other GOP event or occasion in the future),” the DuPage County GOP said on Facebook.
The party did not identify the individuals who made the complaints or provide additional details.
Coyne said the organization was told the venue received multiple calls and emails before deciding to withdraw.
“I can't speak to what happened,” Coyne said. “I just know that they got a number of calls and emails and bullied the business and are not allowing the event.”
Calls placed by the DuPage Policy Journal to Shoeless Joe’s and owner Joe Macchitelli were not returned.
Coyne said the situation reflects a broader trend involving political events and venue availability.
“It's definitely par for the course,” Coyne said. “In Chicago, where Republicans do events, they won't even publicly disclose where they are. When you buy your ticket, you find out the day of the event. It is just ridiculous. Sadly, we may have to start doing that. It's unfortunate.”
He added that attendees were disappointed by the change.
“We're disappointed the venue folded to it,” Coyne said. “Because a lot of Republicans were fans of that place – don't know how many liberal groups were – but it certainly angered a bunch of our people.”
The incident is the latest in a series of disputes involving conservative political groups in the Chicago area that say venues have canceled or distanced themselves from Republican-affiliated events after receiving complaints or following activist pressure campaigns.
“I know of many other right-leaning causes and candidates who have had events canceled because of that,” Coyne said. “I've honestly been waiting for it to happen and it just never has, but they finally did it, so it's too bad.”
Just a week earlier, the Chicago Young Republicans said a planned “Summer Soiree” at Augie’s in Lincoln Park was canceled three days before the event after the venue learned of the group’s affiliation.
Chair Ashley Dalton told Chicago City Wire that organizers had signed a contract and paid a deposit before the venue withdrew. Dalton noted the group has experienced similar issues at other venues and alleged that members have faced harassment, threats and doxxing tied to their political affiliations.
A separate controversy occurred in April 2025 when the Save Illinois Coalition relocated an immigration-focused event after 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park canceled a booking following an online pressure campaign. Organizers said the event featured Black and Hispanic speakers and focused on sanctuary city policies and immigration.
In January 2023, the Des Plaines Theatre canceled an event organized by Awake Illinois after the venue operator said he received threats involving guns and harassment. LGBT advocates had opposed the event due to comments associated with the organization.
The repeated venue disputes have fueled debate over political events at private businesses and claims of pressure campaigns affecting bookings.
Coyne said the DuPage GOP considered legal action but instead chose to move forward with a new venue.
“Republicans don't do this,” Coyne said. “It's only Democrats that's trying to intimidate local businesses. It's only Democrats who don't think anybody should think outside of the way they do.”
“We're trying to have an American patriotic theme event and they find that offensive,” Coyne said. “And that's quite telling.”
He said the organization plans to continue the event as scheduled.
“I think we'll have an even nicer event at the end of the day,” Coyne said. “And we're moving on to more positive things.”
Coyne said other venues have offered to host the gathering, and the organization is working to secure a new location for its June 24 event.
“Thankfully there were other venues that contacted us and so they'd be happy to take us,” Coyne said. “So the event will be moving forward. It's just sad.”
The DuPage GOP has not yet announced a new venue.