Where everybody knew his name; owner of Where Else bar mourned

The owner of a popular bar & grill in Elk Grove Village that drew people from all walks of life and at all hours of the night and day has died.

Don Kontos was best known as the owner behind the bar of Where Else? Bar & Grill on Higgins Road in Elk Grove Village, which he had owned for nearly 40 years. But he also ran Lively Liquors in Elk Grove Village and Higgley's Restaurant in Arlington Heights.

He died on June 1. The longtime Des Plaines resident was 78.

Kontos was a native of Greece who immigrated to this country at 15 and enlisted in the Army at 18. After serving for three years, he was honorably discharged in 1958 and set out to make a living in his adopted country.

One of his first jobs was working as a bartender, where he started to dream of owning his own place. Kontos finally realized that dream in 1975, when he opened a bar and grill on Higgins Road near the Elk Grove Industrial Park.

"It was just a small storefront that Don thought would draw customers from the surrounding businesses," said his wife, Sandra Kontos.

Initially, it was known as the Warehouse, and it stayed open until 4 a.m., drawing a lunch and dinner crowd before attracting workers from the night shift looking to unwind.

It was closed for three years before Kontos reopened it as the Where Else? Bar & Grill.

"It was a neighborhood tavern that drew a friendly, regular crowd," Sandra Kontos said. "Everyone knew Don. He was the guy behind the bar, and it didn't matter what walk of life you came from, he made everyone feel at home.

"It was the Cheers bar, before the show became popular," she added. "Don made sure everyone knew everybody."

Within five years of opening the bar and grill, Kontos opened a second business, Lively Liquors, located nearby on Higgins Road. Kontos ran the liquor store for 30 years, until 2010.

In 1984, Kontos also opened Higgley's, which was a pancake house and restaurant, located near the intersection of Algonquin and Arlington Heights roads. From its high-visibility location, the restaurant drew families and patrons from the surrounding hotels.

Higgley's closed in 2006 and eventually gave way to a gas station and car wash development.

Besides his wife, Kontos is survived by his son, George.

Services have been held.