Kolachi Tandoori Grill moving to larger site in Schaumburg
After nearly four years at one location in Schaumburg, the restaurant Kolachi Tandoori Grill has received village permission to move to another site more than twice its current size to serve its popular South Asian cuisine to an expanding customer base.
The move will take the business from an approximately 2,000-square-foot space at 937 S. Roselle Road to one that will be 5,100 square feet at 1117 S. Roselle Road in the Nantucket Square Shopping Center.
The new site combines two previously separate store fronts. Village code only allows restaurants to occupy spaces up to a maximum of 4,500 square feet. The new site required village board approval.
Though customers have been asking for more space — saying they reluctantly have to go elsewhere for larger gatherings — owner Syed Nizami said Wednesday he’s been hesitant to tell them anything was even in the works before it was official out of fear of disappointing them.
“We were looking for a space for almost a year,” he added. “It’s going to be much bigger and better and meet their demand.”
The relocation is expected to take about six months, but the restaurant will continue operating at its current site in the meantime.
Because the two locations are within easy walking distance, Nizami said there’s no doubt of his ability to retain his current customers.
One of the keys to the restaurant’s popularity has been its biryani, made with basmati rice, marinated meat, house-ground spices and slow cooked, he added. Other dishes include freshly baked naan, grilled tandoori meats, curries, vegetarian options and traditional appetizers made from scratch with traditional cooking methods.
The landlord is requiring an additional set of doors at the front and rear of the restaurant, and the village inspection will require a modern ventilation system to minimize cooking smells drifting toward the homes behind the shopping center, which members of the Schaumburg zoning board recognized as an issue there in the past.
The new site will operate with a team of 8 to 10 employees and be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the week, and an hour later Friday through Sunday.