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Hooters returning to Lake County in Gurnee

Gurnee eatery likely to open this summer

To correct a story in editions Thursday, Feb. 11, an International House of Pancakes in Gurnee has yet to close. Plans call for it to close and a Hooters to take over March 1.

Hooters is returning to Lake County after a roughly nine-year absence.

Plans call for Hooters to occupy a soon-to-close International House of Pancakes in a building on the eastern edge of the Tri-State Tollway in Gurnee. Village board trustees Monday night voted 5-0 in favor a full liquor license for Hooters.

An exact closing date for the IHOP at 5670 Northridge Drive was not immediately available. It still was open Thursday.

Hooters closed after a four-year run in Vernon Hills in December 2006. Since then, Lake County has been without the restaurant's signature Buffalo chicken wings.

But it won't be too long before the Hooters void is filled in Gurnee. Hooters is expected to take possession of the IHOP building on March 1 to start renovations with the opening projected in July or August, village officials said.

Sal Melilli, chief operating officer of Hooters Management Corp., said Gurnee will mark the chain's 12th restaurant in the Chicago area. Melilli, who's based in Chicago, said the ownership group's members are original founders of the Hooters concept.

"We're very excited," Melilli said after the village board approved the liquor license. "We actually can't wait to be part of Gurnee. It's been quite a journey to find a location and a space. And I think it's taken us about 15 or 20 years to finally have one. So, we're looking forward to being part of the neighborhood."

Hooters is to open just west of Six Flags Great America. Restaurants and hotels operating on Northridge include Joe's Crab Shack, Olive Garden, LaQuinta Inn and Suites, Extended Stay America and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.

About $1 million will be invested in remodeling the IHOP building so it can operate as Hooters, Melilli said, and the restaurant should generate at least 75 jobs.

Melilli said Hooters has a history of contributing to organizations and causes. After he noted a portion of chicken wing sales on Tuesdays this month will be donated to Holy Family School in a low-income section of Chicago, Gurnee Trustee Karen Thorstenson inquired whether the restaurant would provide charitable assistance in Gurnee.

"We would probably add on," Melilli responded. "We would definitely stick with that (Holy Family) charity because we've done it for 15 years and it's an integral piece of their budgeting. ... But then, we're certainly going to look at stuff here (in Gurnee). And again, we very rarely say 'no' to anyone."

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