Garibaldi’s Italian Eatery back in Arlington Heights

Garibaldi’s Italian Eatery is back in Arlington Heights.

The restaurant is open for business at 1960 N. Arlington Heights Road in the Annex of Arlington shopping center. A grand opening celebration and promotion is planned for Wednesday, April 18.

Michael Bagan opened the new restaurant close to the Town & Country shopping center, where one of the two Arlington Heights Garibaldi’s once was located. The south side restaurant was on Golf Road just east of Arlington Heights Road.

Bagan is the same investor who also reopened the “flagship” Garibaldi’s in Hoffman Estates last June in Barrington Square at Higgins and Barrington roads. That restaurant is in the same location as when it originally opened in 1976.

Bagan, who had never been in the restaurant business before, was familiar with the chain, which once had six locations, because his sister formerly was married to its founder, Gary Mednicov.

“I knew I could bring back the right people, assemble the team back to what it was — the managers, the cooks, some had been with the company 25 years. The recipes, everything. It has a great history,” he said.

“The reception in Arlington Heights has been unbelievable,” said Bagan. “It’s so much fun to see some of our customers. Gary Brown, who was the Golf Road manager, is in the new shop. People are coming in and giving him a hug. It’s crazy to me. It’s great all the way around.”

The Illinois Department of Revenue closed the Golf Road location in September 2010 for nonpayment of sales taxes. The Hoffman Estates location closed shortly thereafter.

Bagan said he was approached by the president of the bank that foreclosed on Mednicov’s restaurants and asked if he would like to buy the assets. The state ruled that Bagan is not liable for the unpaid taxes.

Another Garibaldi’s in Carpentersville operated by Steve Carlson closed last July, also due to nonpayment of state sales taxes. Carlson and some of his employees then went to work for Bagan at the Hoffman Estates location.

Bagan said at this point he will only open the two spots, although an official in one of the other suburbs where there was a Garibaldi’s has called to see if he would be interested in reopening there too.

“I want everything to be right at these two,” he said.

Longtime Chicago restaurateur Art Liss serves as a consultant for the restaurants.

Garibaldi’s Italian Eatery is on Facebook.