Tap House Grill Could Open in Des Plaines

The new restaurant wants to move into the space formerly occupied by Cheeseburger in Paradise, the Journal & Topics reports.

  Tap House Grill may soon be open in Des Plaines where Cheeseburger in Paradise used to be, the Journal & Topics reports. Restaurant owners met with the Economic Development Commission this week. The Commission voted to recommend to the City Council that $80,000 in TIF District money be used to renovate their space in Metropolitan Square, the newspaper reports.  According to its website, Tap House Grill offers a selection of craft beers, hamburgers, salads and more. 

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Metropolitan Square Foreclosure Stalls Ale House Move

Lender says it is working on a resolution with the development’s owner.

The fate of a potential tenant for Metropolitan Square in downtown Des Plaines appears to hang in the balance of foreclosure proceedings on the major commercial and residential development, which largely has been vacant since opening in 2006. The owners of Emerson Ale House in Mount Prospect were in discussions in March to open a second location in the space formerly occupied by Cheeseburger in Paradise, Journal & Topics Newspapers reported. Nonda Karvelas, co-owner of Emerson’s Ale House, said after reaching a verbal agreement for the location at the beginning of March, a lease never materialized. “One day we’re sitting at a table shaking hands and a lease is going to get written up, then the next week, nothing; no response,” Karvelas …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (2)

Top Stories of 2011: Cheeseburger in Paradise Closes Abruptly

No. 3 in our weekly countdown of the most popular stories published on Des Plaines Patch in 2011.

This week we’ll look back at some of the most-read stories published on Des Plaines Patch in 2011. Each day we’ll add to this list of the top 10 stories. When the Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant in downtown Des Plaines suddenly closed on March 11, another vacancy in Metropolitan Square was added to the number of darkened storefronts throughout the development. No. 3 in our countdown of the top 10 stories of 2011 is “Cheeseburger in Paradise Closes Abruptly,” published on March 15. Earlier: No. 4 of 10, T-Bob's Smoked Bar-B-Q The Jimmy Buffet theme restaurant first opened in Des Plaines Dec. 13, 2005, and Tom Fremarek, managing partner, cited rent increases over the last two years as the reason for the closure. An honorable mention goes…

• Photos (1)

Cheeseburger in Paradise's Former Space Not The Only Vacancy Downtown

City officials were set to meet with leasing agent to discuss vacancy Thursday.

In the wake of Cheeseburger in Paradise’s abrupt closing two weeks ago, city officials and the leasing company of the former tenant were set to meet this week. At the same time, one of two economic development initiatives designed to improve the downtown area, has yet to benefit one business since starting in the fall of last year. City officials were scheduled to meet with representatives from NEI Management & Development of McHenry Thursday, the property management company that represents landlords in Metropolitan Square that lost tenant Cheeseburger in Paradise, Michael Bartholomew, director of community and economic development said. The Jimmy Buffet themed restaurant closed March 11. Bartholomew said they would discuss the leasing …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (2)

Daily PatchCast: Teacher Fired for Alleged "Inappropriate" Relationship & Fire Demolishes Building

A roundup of the region's major developments for Thursday March 17.

Here's what's going on in Patch sites around you: Oak Street Building Demolished After Fire. UPDATE: Board Fires Teacher, Cites 'Inappropriate Relationship'. Cheeseburger in Paradise Closes Abruptly. Japanese Preschoolers Will Sing Sunday for Students In Japan

• Videos (1)

Keeping It Local On New Year's Eve?

Here's what's happening around town this New Year's Eve and we've also included some nifty ways to get home too!

Hey Des Plaines! If you're thinking about keeping it local this New Year's Eve, here is a list of what's going on at your local watering holes. In addition, we've also listed local cab companies so that you can enjoy your evening and get home safely. Now that you know where to enjoy yourself, the real question that needs to be answered is "How in the world am I going to get home?" Here is a list of local cab companies to be sure that you get home safely. Nobody wants a DUI for the holidays. O'Hare Taxi & Limo - 2720 S River Rd. No. 238, Des Plaines - (847) 297-5556 All Star Cab Dispatch Inc. - 1101 Elmhurst Road, Des Plaines - (847) 806-0825 Des Plaines Yellow Cab & Packages - 1585 Ellinwood St., Des Plaines - (847) 296-8294 United …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

Christopher Brinckerhoff

2:15 pm on Monday, December 5, 2011

Hey Joyce, Check back next week for this year's list of local New Year's celebrations. We're working on it right now. If you have any suggestions for what we should include, please fire away.   more ›

Where to Drink And How To Get Home Safely on Black Wednesday

Here is a list of drinks specials and entertainment at local watering holes.

Hey Des Plaines! Because the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving is generally known as the biggest night for imbibing (affectionately known as Black Wednesday) we've compiled a list of drinks specials and entertainment at all of your local watering holes. In addition, we've also listed local cab companies so that you can enjoy your evening and get home safely. Now that you know where to enjoy yourself, the real question that needs to be answered is "How in the world am I going to get home?" Here is a list of local cab companies to be sure that you get home safely. Nobody wants a DUI for the holidays. O'Hare Taxi & Limo - 2720 S River Rd. No. 238, Des Plaines - (847) 297-5556 All Star Cab Dispatch Inc. - 1101 Elmhurst Road, Des Plaines…

• Photos (4)

Payton Fundraiser Kicks Off

The Walter and Connie Payton Foundation is raising money for kids at Cheeseburger in Paradise Nov. 7.

When da Bears meet the Bills on the gridiron at noon Nov. 7 some fans will be doing something more important than simply watching the game – they will be helping children in need. For the second year in a row the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation's annual Tailgating Party will be hosted by Cheeseburger in Paradise in Des Plaines. One hundred percent of the $35 tickets pay for holiday gifts and party goods for kids served by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the nation's largest accredited child welfare agency. Kelly Woods, director of the foundation, says it's absolutely important for people to attend the Tailgating Party. "I believe it's always important to give back," Woods says. "And these kids that are in the …

• Photos (2)

You Said It Des Plaines

Who Would You Least Like To Be Haunted By and Why?

With Halloween around the corner Des Plaines Patch went out and about town asking residents just that question.

Des Plaines Patch went with a Halloween theme this week, asking people about who they'd least like to be haunted by and why.  We spoke to Mario Mazzetti, 22, and Jeremy Sonkin, 24, both currently starring in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, about their fear of an American musical-comedy legend. We also spoke to long-time Des Plaines resident Tom Capparelli, who used to own Sims Bowling Alley on Ellinwood Aveneue, about a movie monster who has haunted him since boyhood. Deanna Campbell, 14, a student at Chippewa Middle School, spoke of her fear of a popular urban legend sure to spark memories of girlhood slumber parties and we found a common fear in Chelsea Peterson, 23, a bartender at Cheeseburger in Paradise, Joe Kanoeckl, 24, …

• Videos (1)

Police Bust 22 Vendors for Selling Liquor to Minors

Ordinance change prompts crackdown on unlawful alcohol sales in Des Plaines.

Last week marked the end of a three-month-long operation in which Des Plaines police came down hard on local bars, restaurants and liquor stores, catching 22 out of 108 Des Plaines establishments in the act of selling liquor to minors. View list here. Police Chief Jim Prandini said the decision to investigate the matter came in June in response to an ordinance change allowing gasoline stations to sell beer and wine on a limited basis. The move stirred controversy about whether the decision would make liquor more readily available to teenagers. "I made a statement in front of the City Council that during the course of the summer we would be checking every liquor establishment, including the gas stations, to see if they were in fact selling …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

Lisa Cisneros

10:36 am on Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Thanks Lady!   more ›