Leona's coming to Elk Grove; others set to open

Leona's Italian restaurant is set to open at 66 E. Devon Ave. in Elk Grove Village in August, as part of an expansion plan by the family owners.

Ted Mavrakis, a co-owner of Leona's, said Tuesday they plan to open five restaurants this year. Besides Elk Grove Village, two more are scheduled to open in Chicago, and they are eyeing additional suburban locations, such as Glenview and Evanston.

These are in addition to the six Leona's now operating in Des Plaines as well as in the Hyde Park, Old Irving, Rogers Park, Stony Island and Beverly neighborhoods in Chicago.

“The menu is the same and the food is good, but food evolves and we will see what our customers want,” Mavrakis said.

The Mavrakis family bought Leona's in late 2013 from then-CEO Leon Toia, grandson of the chain's founder. Mavrakis said they are looking to buy established restaurants and remodel them. They employ about 20 to 25 workers at each location and they will start hiring in Elk Grove Village over the next couple of weeks, he said.

Chicago-based Kudan Group helped close the deal for the Elk Grove site.

Besides Leona's, the firm also represented the owners of Rito's Mexican Grill & Cantina. Tacos Y Mariscos La Presa purchased that business. They are at 86 W. Dundee Road in Buffalo Grove.

In addition, Kudan Group facilitated the sale of 105 West St. Charles Road in downtown Lombard. A casual-American restaurant concept is slated to open later this year.