The Caribou Club

OK I know this is a little cheesy feel good movie, so take it with a grain of salt, etc. When the gang started to fix up the previously boarded up club where the kid was hiding out, how come nobody else noticed? If any indication this club was darkened, abadoned and boarded up for years, and suddenly they start to fix it up and now there's suddenly electricity, maybe gas to make the ovens work. Did the old man own the place?