Regulars know Townee Square's the place for great food, friends

=Like barfly Norm Peterson in the classic TV show "Cheers," Cy Fritsch has his regular stool at the Townee Square Restaurant in Libertyville.

Just as the jovial Norm held court from a corner stool at Cheers' bar, the 82-year-old Fritsch prefers his eggs and coffee at the last stool at the Townee's Formica counter.

It's a great spot for Fritsch to watch the customers come and go.

"I chat with the boys and the ladies that come in," said Fritsch, of Lincolnshire.

More Coverage Video Townee Square Restaurant

And come in they do. The diner, 508 N. Milwaukee Ave., just north of Cook Avenue, is a favorite gathering spot for many people who live or work in the Libertyville area.

Once the home of a hardware store, the downtown storefront has seen a few restaurants come and go through the years. The first was known as Independent House when it opened in the 1960s, current co-owner Christine Karahalios recalled.

The food at the Townee is good -- really good -- but it's not just the omelets, pancakes, sandwiches and hamburgers that bring the people in. It's the friendly neighborhood atmosphere, which has been cultivated by Karahalios and her husband, George, since they took over in 1986.

Unlike many other restaurants, the Townee staff isn't in a rush to turn over a table if the place isn't too busy. If you want to come in with friends and just drink coffee for a few hours, that's just fine.

"Sometimes we have a full breakfast. Sometimes we just have an English muffin. Sometimes we sit and talk for an hour or two," explained regular customer Dave Pinter of Green Oaks, who can be found at the Townee with his wife, Nancy, on most mornings. "They don't throw us out."

That being said, there is something special about the food at the Townee -- particularly the generous egg dishes.

As the menu points out, egg orders automatically are doubled. In other words, order two eggs over easy and you'll automatically get four.

Oooof.

"Nobody can say they didn't have enough (to eat)," Fritsch said. "They always have plenty."

The double-egg tradition goes back to restaurants the Karahalioses owned before the Townee.

"You have to do something different in business, and we came up with that," Christine Karahalios said. "It's all about exceeding people's expectations."