Famous Dave's pulls plate away from Hoffman Estates

Pork spending took a hit Monday in Hoffman Estates after Famous Dave's announced it would halt plans to open a restaurant in the village.

The Minneapolis-based chain of barbecue restaurants was set to open a location next year near the recently opened Sports Authority store near the Sears Centre on Hoffman Estates' west side. Company officials say they've terminated the lease in Hoffman Estates, according a prepared statement.

Famous Dave's has struggled this year, reporting a third-quarter loss of $763,000. Officials also announced they would close its three restaurants in Atlanta and pull out of the market while also nixing plans for a restaurant in Hyattsville, Md.

Though the building had already been constructed, Famous Dave's had not taken control or made alterations, said Hoffman Estates Village Manager James Norris. No employees had been hired either. Norris said the village was disappointed but took solace in the fact the project was stopped before further work had been done.

The barbecue chain has 13 locations in Illinois and is a regular contributor to Naperville's Rib Fest in the summer, when in 2007 it took home the Kid's Choice award. Recently the chain also opened a concept store in Algonquin, closing its Carpentersville location and moving its employees there.

It's another sign of the times for the community that will see the Circuit City in neighboring South Barrington close after opening just in September. Officials last week announced that The Great Indoors in Schaumburg would close in February.

Norris said the developer has leads on other tenants for the space.

Hoffman Estates Trustees Cary Collins and Raymond Kincaid said after Monday's village board meeting that they were unaware of the news.