Suburban bar & grill owners aim to lure families
The new owners of a West Chicago bar and grill say they have cleaned up the establishment with hopes of bringing back families.
Lou Kopinski and Frank Indelli are the owners of Hawthorne's Backyard, which replaces what was once Boonedocks and King James. The business partners say they have reintroduced the popular fish fry on Friday nights using the same recipe once used at King James.
The beer-battered Iceland Haddock sells for $9.95 for two pieces and $11.95 for three pieces.
"It's going over really well," Kopinski said.
Other favorites on the menu include pulled pork and award-winning ribs that sell for $19 for a full slab. On Saturday evenings, a popular pick has been the all-you-can-eat crab leg special that is $24.95. The bread pudding is another favorite, said Kopinski of Glen Ellyn.
The family-oriented sports bar and grill that opened earlier this month sits on 41/2 acres featuring sand volleyball courts and horseshoe pits. Bag tournaments will also take place during the summer.
A full bar is located outside for the large patio area.
Private parties and weddings can take advantage of the gazebo area, while catering is also available, said Kopinski, 36.
The business partners met when they worked together for more than seven years at another restaurant. Kopinski was the chef and Indelli, of Wheaton. served as manager. Kopinski then went on to work as a general manager for Chili's and Sweet Tomatoes while Indelli, 43, worked as the food and beverage director at the Hilton Garden Inn in St. Charles.
The men, St. Francis High School graduates, have talked about launching their own restaurant for years. They have been watching this location since the original King James owners sold it more than 10 years ago.
"We want to bring back some of the King James tradition with our own twist," Kopinski said.
The establishment is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call (630) 293-6700.
More red: With shoppers watching their wallets during the recession, more people are finding Redbox's machines more difficult to pass up.
The fully-automated DVD service offers new release rentals for $1 a night. The number of kiosks is growing rapidly.
From an initial launch of 12 kiosks in 2002, Redbox now features more than 15,000 locations nationwide and is expecting more than 20,000 additional locations by the end of the year.
The company has more than 1,200 employees nationwide with more than 500 employees in the Chicago area. Redbox is looking to hire nearly 200 more employees in this area by the end of the year in areas including management, customer service, administrative, repair and information technology.
The kiosks caught on, especially in supermarkets, where they catch customers' eyes as they push their grocery carts through the checkout counters.