Garibaldi's owner trying to fulfill promise to school kids

The closing of the Garibaldi's restaurant in Hoffman Estates earlier this month has parents of children in Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 wondering: what will happen to the special hot lunch they ordered.

At least three schools in District 54 Keller and Eisenhower junior highs in Schaumburg and Armstrong Elementary School in Hoffman Estates planned to serve Garibaldi's lunches to children during select months of the school year.

At Keller, parents could order tacos, cheese pizza bread, or a side salad with garlic bread, all from Garibaldi's, to be served on Nov. 9. They paid for their selections at the beginning of the school year.

Armstrong had planned to serve Garibaldi's selections in January, while Eisenhower had slotted them for May.

Now, parents want answers.

Terri McHugh, spokeswoman for District 54, says Garibaldi's has not collected any money, and that the PTA councils at the respective schools typically hold onto the money until making payment at the time the food is delivered.

“While parents have put money out, the PTAs are still holding the money and ultimately it's up to them what to do, McHugh said. “Some of our schools had planned on using Garibaldi's and they still would, if they reopen.

Gary Mednicov, who owns the two Garibaldis in Hoffman Estates and Arlington Heights, which closed Sept. 22, said if need be, he would fulfill their orders from another restaurant location, from either Villa Park or Carpentersville.

“We're working really hard on reopening, Mednicov said.

The Garibaldi's in Arlington Heights, located at 132 E. Golf Road in International Plaza, closed for failure to pay sales taxes to the state. A sticker on its window announced the state had revoked its business license.

Its Hoffman Estates location closed a little over two weeks later and Mednicov declined to comment further.

Members of the local PTA councils in District 54 could not be reached for this story, though their website indicates they take pride in offering District 54 special lunches once a month, since there are no hot lunch programs in the district.