Shuttered Palatine Subway could reopen this fall
Fremd High School students love their Subway sandwiches.
Franchisee Tim Ryan is so sure of that, he's willing to put $250,000 into remodeling the shuttered sandwich shop at Palatine and Quentin roads. But he can't install seating without the shopping center owner adding parking. And without seating to accommodate the hungry teens, he's tempted to walk away altogether.
On Monday, Palatine officials responded they can't compel the shopping center owner to start construction to expand the parking lot. But the council did approve an amendment allowing 16 seats in the Subway if parking is added.
Officials also got shopping center owner Linn Min, who runs Inverness Cleaners, to say she'd write Ryan a letter releasing him from the long-term lease if the parking lot isn't expanded by eight spots.
Ryan, who owns 11 Subways in the Northwest suburbs, had hoped for a guarantee that he'd be able to open before another brutal winter sets in.
"If we wait and we're not open until December or January, I'm going to be losing money everyday," said Ryan, adding that about six weeks of remodeling work is needed. "We thought we'd be built and open (already). It's just killing us."
Partner Phil Mesi said the Subway opened 20 years ago with seating. About five years ago, the village realized there were no public bathrooms and ordered the seating be removed. Sales in the new carryout only shop dropped dramatically and the former franchisee walked away once the lease expired.
The parking lot's current configuration already leads to overflow parking on Walnut Street, according to resident Jennifer Miller, who said she's concerned additional business will compound the problem. Other residents who attended the plan commission meeting complained about the litter from diners eating outside the restaurant, which Village Manager Reid Ottesen said should be alleviated with seating.
Minn said she expects the bank to approve a letter of credit for the parking lot expansion by the end of next week. If construction doesn't get underway by winter, the project will have to wait until spring.