Black Ram restaurant closes after 40 years

After a 40-year run, the Black Ram Steakhouse in Des Plaines became the latest victim of a troubled economy.

The restaurant at 1414 Oakton St. served its final meal Saturday night. The state suspended the upscale eatery's liquor license in February for not paying taxes.

Owner Nicholas Liapes of Park Ridge said that was the final straw for the family business, which had been struggling for quite some time.

"That definitely affected our business," Liapes said. "It affected our decision to stop. It's been an ongoing saga for a while. The business has been quiet. The people have been pulling back. We just decided that we couldn't go any further."

Liapes would not elaborate on the liquor license suspension, but said as economic conditions changed, customers were down to a trickle.

"It's been difficult keeping up the volume," he said. "Real estate taxes and utilities are constantly going up. It was a bad run."

The restaurant has been in that location since 1969. Liapes and his nephew, John Liapes, have owned it for almost 20 years.

Mike Conlan, Des Plaines' community and economic development director, said the family has been actively marketing the restaurant for some time.

The family may have lined up a prospective buyer but no contract has been signed.

"We have prospects for a large sports bar and grill to open in that spot," Liapes said.