Same name, new restaurant: Napolitano's in South Elgin
It may have the same name, but the new Napolitano's restaurant along Randall Road in South Elgin is its own, new, unique restaurant.
Owner Noubar Hawe took over the building at 455 Reddington Drive, which was vacant.
He decided to keep the old name of the restaurant on the awning - Napolitano's - but completely revamped everything else, said general manager Tracey Soucy.
The business reopened two weeks ago, near the intersection of Randall and McDonald roads, and already there are regulars excited to see a family-friendly Italian restaurant in their neighborhood, Soucy said.
The restaurant features Italian cuisine she said, but some of the food also has a bit of a French influence.
Napolitano's also has a full kids menu, a full bar, and a private party room that can accommodate up to 70 people.
This is Hawe's first individually owned restaurant, Soucy said.
However, for years he's worked at a restaurant his brother owns in Kildeer, learning in the ins and outs of the restaurant business.
He decided to take that expertise and open his own spot.
Soucy said they drove by the closed Napolitano's, decided it was a perfect spot, and called to get the lease.
They redecorated the restaurant with a Mediterranean flair, and meticulously planned out the new menu before opening the restaurant.
Soucy said Napolitano's is a family-friendly place that has become an important part of Hawe's family, too.
"His family is growing. He now has three children. His wife recently had a baby three weeks ago," she said. "I think it's a way to provide a living, and at the same time provide a unique restaurant in the area for families since there isn't another Italian restaurant like this," she said.
Soucy said the community has been very receptive to the new venture. She added that the Napolitano's staff is excited to be along the Randall Road corridor providing good food to nearby residents.
"We're pretty excited to be in the area and we've been receiving a lot of feedback from the patrons," she said. "A lot came back in when they saw the open sign and were excited we are here.
"We've been getting rave reviews from them. We hope many people try us. We hope to be successful in the area."
Food demo: If you've ever wondered how to grill sweets, you may want to stop by Fresh Market, 718 Commons Drive, Geneva this month.
From 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 19, they'll be doing a free demonstration on how to prepare grilled pound cake with red wine chocolate sauce, berries and canola cream.
No reservations are necessary, so just show up to learn how to prepare it.
Now open: Algonquin Commons now has two new stores open.
This month both Tilly's and Yogen Fruz opened at the outdoor mall along the Randall Road corridor.
Amy Williams' column covers all the news of business along the Randall Road corridor from South Elgin to Batavia. Contact her at randallbiz@comcast.net or at (847) 894-5036.