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Chicago Sun-Times

National

Mitch Dudek

From bodybuilding bouncer to TV craftsman on ‘Windy City Rehab’ — what’s next for Ari Smejkal?

Alison Victoria HGTV Anthony Vazquez Chicago Limelight SunTimes

Former “Windy City Rehab” craftsman Ari Smejkal at a job site in Bucktown. (Anthony Vazquez / Sun-Times)

Ari Smejkal has a lot of plans and strong feelings about the HGTV show “Windy City Rehab” that made the carpenter (more of an artisan, really) a recognizable figure — but first let’s review a portion of his resume that’s left off the show.

He once was a bodybuilding bouncer at Chicago’s hottest club.

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