Economy forces two suburban restaurants to fold

Some suburban restaurants are expected to close soon and eliminate more jobs here.

Mint Julep Bistro in downtown Palatine plans to close by late August when its lease expires. The restaurant featured Southern cooking and comfort food by chef Diana Davenport, a co-owner with husband Dave Davenport.

"The recession has really taken a toll on all of us," said Dave Davenport of Lake Barrington. "We're all just barely hanging on."

The bistro opened in September 2008 and was featured on WTTW-TV's "Check Please," which gave it a "shot in the arm." But that publicity didn't last long and weeknight business dwindled to almost nothing, he said.

In the meantime, the bistro will serve lunch, Sunday breakfast and daily high tea. The nightly dinners have been eliminated.

The bistro has laid off seven workers and has retained eight workers, who will later transfer to the Mint Julep Room, a nightclub with outdoor seating, that the couple opened nearby about two months ago.

Another restaurant, Pamela's Parkside Grill in downtown Arlington Heights, is expected to close this Saturday night and will eliminate 20 jobs. It featured fine dining with steaks, veal, ribs, seafood and other dishes.

The restaurant opened to much publicity in January after owners Howard Maybloom and his wife Pamela Olin-Maybloom transformed the 25-year-old former Regina's Ristorante into Pamela's in about three days.

While the Mayblooms said business had been good, some initial capital commitments fell through.

"We were just chasing debt," said Pamela Olin-Maybloom.

Another downtown Arlington Heights restaurant, Carlos & Carlos, closed July 3 after its monthly rent increased from about $5,000 to $12,000, said manager Mario Montiel. He would not say how many employees were impacted, but the owners are seeking another location.

Carlos & Carlos, a French Italian bistro, was founded in 1985.

Other eateries, including Coco Berry Cafe in Aurora and Crème De La Crumb in Naperville recently closed. Their phones numbers have been disconnected.