West Dundee assists with expansion of The Chubby Bullfrog

West Dundee is offering financial assistance to help a local restaurant expand.

Owners of The Chubby Bullfrog Bar and Grill at 1959 Huntley Road are looking to renovate the neighboring space in the Tartans Crossing strip mall and turn it into an extension of the existing restaurant.

The Chubby Bullfrog, an official Blackhawks bar, opened three years ago and has since gained a large following, owner Michael Morrison said. Staff at the 2,000-square-foot restaurant often have to turn customers away during games and on weekends, he said, and regular crowds are continuing to grow.

Though a lease has not yet been signed, Morrison said the potential expansion space - a 1,200-square-foot former bakery - could be used as a group event area or for additional dining that would seat roughly 50 more guests.

The village board last week agreed to contribute $5,000 to the expansion project, which is expected to cost $25,000 to $28,000.

"The benefits come twofold in that we will be able to accommodate our current and growing customer base, which means higher sales turning into greater tax revenues," Morrison said in a letter to village officials. "Besides the financial benefits of this project, this will also turn our business into an even greater family friendly bar and grill to serve the community."

The extra space would bring in an anticipated $75,000 in sales annually, he added.

The expansion allows for more storage but also requires several renovations, Morrison said: knocking down a wall, removing a drop ceiling, adding new lighting, removing counters, adding another washroom and rerouting the plumbing.

A partition wall will also be installed to close off the room for private parties or when it is not being used, he said.

To assist with the renovation costs, the village agreed to give The Chubby Bullfrog $2,500 up front and will reimburse the owners $2,500 in incremental sales tax over a five-year period, according to village documents.

This is in addition to a previous economic incentive agreement, in which the village agreed to reimburse restaurant owners $1,500 in incremental sales tax toward an outdoor dining area.

"We've had a good working relationship with West Dundee," Morrison said. "They've been professional and accommodating."

If all goes well, Morrison said, he hopes to wrap up the expansion and all renovations by the end of January.

"(The Chubby Bullfrog) has been an excellent addition to the village," Village Manager Joe Cavallaro said. "It's a homegrown West Dundee business that we're excited to see continuing to expand."