Post by title1parent on Jun 23, 2010 5:13:52 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/2420952,2_1_AU23_BILLYGOAT_S1-100623.article
Downtown update: Billy Goat, jazz club coming to New York St.
June 23, 2010
By ANDRE SALLES asalles@stmedianetwork.com
AURORA -- The Billy Goat Tavern is still coming to downtown Aurora, according to developer Steve Arwady, but its grand opening has been delayed until August.
The remainder of the Restaurant Row project, across New York Street from the Ballydoyle pub, is on track, Arwady says, with a new jazz and blues club and a new pizza and sandwich shop ready to roll.
Arwady purchased four buildings (29, 31-33, 35 and 37 W. New York St.) at a combined cost of $2.3 million last year, with a plan to launch a restaurant district downtown. He brought in Comfort Zone Barbecue, at 37 W. New York St., last August, and 33 West Trattoria, an Italian-style eatery run by Chef Amaury Rosado, earlier this year.
But the centerpiece of the plan has always been Billy Goat, a Chicago mainstay since 1934. Owners of the tavern have signed a five-year lease for the lower level of 29-33 W. New York St. and had initially planned to be open by March 1. However, Arwady said, discussions with the city about permits have taken longer than he expected.
That means Chef Rich Green's Comfort Zone Jazz and Blues Bar will likely be open first. Green plans to expand his restaurant into 35 W. New York next door and bring in live jazz and blues bands. He expects the new bar to be open by the end of July.
And Bill Poss, owner of Luigi's Pizza on Prairie Street, will be bringing his new eatery to the upper level of Restaurant Row. He's been through a number of names -- he wanted to call it Mario's or Billy Boy's, but was told he might be confused with other similarly named restaurants in the area. He's settled on Upper Deck Pizza and Sandwiches, and he expects to be open by the end of summer.
Poss says he won't be closing his original store on Prairie Street. He expects great things from Restaurant Row -- he'll be installing an atrium facing the river and making sandwiches "no one else offers," he said.
Alderman Rick Lawrence said Tuesday he may be interested in selling the building he owns next door. Lawrence has owned 41 W. New York St. since 1988, and the building is the current home of Buckner's Heating and Air, Annie's Om Towne Fitness and the tax preparation offices of Malanie Moreno.
Lawrence said he has been approached by two separate people interested in purchasing the building. Ballydoyle owner Phil Cullen confirmed he was one of them, but said he was only curious about the price. But Lawrence, who abstained from the vote approving Restaurant Row, reiterated his belief that the project "doesn't make sense unless it goes all the way to Pinney Street."
Annie's Om Towne Fitness, owned by former Aurora Township Supervisor Annie Craig, has already begun its move to a new location on Downer Place.
Arwady received $1.25 million in tax increment financing funds from the city to reimburse him for buying the property and renovating it into Restaurant Row. That money will be paid out over three years, including this year, and $450,000 of it is contingent on Billy Goat Tavern remaining at that location.
As for his other project, which will see Chef Amaury's Epicurean Affair move from the far East Side to the old Elks Club building on Stolp Avenue, Arwady said he still has not closed on the property. He expects to shortly, he said, and the project -- which includes apartments on the upper floors -- should be complete by the end of the year.
Downtown update: Billy Goat, jazz club coming to New York St.
June 23, 2010
By ANDRE SALLES asalles@stmedianetwork.com
AURORA -- The Billy Goat Tavern is still coming to downtown Aurora, according to developer Steve Arwady, but its grand opening has been delayed until August.
The remainder of the Restaurant Row project, across New York Street from the Ballydoyle pub, is on track, Arwady says, with a new jazz and blues club and a new pizza and sandwich shop ready to roll.
Arwady purchased four buildings (29, 31-33, 35 and 37 W. New York St.) at a combined cost of $2.3 million last year, with a plan to launch a restaurant district downtown. He brought in Comfort Zone Barbecue, at 37 W. New York St., last August, and 33 West Trattoria, an Italian-style eatery run by Chef Amaury Rosado, earlier this year.
But the centerpiece of the plan has always been Billy Goat, a Chicago mainstay since 1934. Owners of the tavern have signed a five-year lease for the lower level of 29-33 W. New York St. and had initially planned to be open by March 1. However, Arwady said, discussions with the city about permits have taken longer than he expected.
That means Chef Rich Green's Comfort Zone Jazz and Blues Bar will likely be open first. Green plans to expand his restaurant into 35 W. New York next door and bring in live jazz and blues bands. He expects the new bar to be open by the end of July.
And Bill Poss, owner of Luigi's Pizza on Prairie Street, will be bringing his new eatery to the upper level of Restaurant Row. He's been through a number of names -- he wanted to call it Mario's or Billy Boy's, but was told he might be confused with other similarly named restaurants in the area. He's settled on Upper Deck Pizza and Sandwiches, and he expects to be open by the end of summer.
Poss says he won't be closing his original store on Prairie Street. He expects great things from Restaurant Row -- he'll be installing an atrium facing the river and making sandwiches "no one else offers," he said.
Alderman Rick Lawrence said Tuesday he may be interested in selling the building he owns next door. Lawrence has owned 41 W. New York St. since 1988, and the building is the current home of Buckner's Heating and Air, Annie's Om Towne Fitness and the tax preparation offices of Malanie Moreno.
Lawrence said he has been approached by two separate people interested in purchasing the building. Ballydoyle owner Phil Cullen confirmed he was one of them, but said he was only curious about the price. But Lawrence, who abstained from the vote approving Restaurant Row, reiterated his belief that the project "doesn't make sense unless it goes all the way to Pinney Street."
Annie's Om Towne Fitness, owned by former Aurora Township Supervisor Annie Craig, has already begun its move to a new location on Downer Place.
Arwady received $1.25 million in tax increment financing funds from the city to reimburse him for buying the property and renovating it into Restaurant Row. That money will be paid out over three years, including this year, and $450,000 of it is contingent on Billy Goat Tavern remaining at that location.
As for his other project, which will see Chef Amaury's Epicurean Affair move from the far East Side to the old Elks Club building on Stolp Avenue, Arwady said he still has not closed on the property. He expects to shortly, he said, and the project -- which includes apartments on the upper floors -- should be complete by the end of the year.