Clearbrook Cafe closes, Italian restaurant to open

Clearbrook Cafe - a nonprofit coffee shop - will soon transform into a for-profit Italian restaurant.

"With this economy, we decided to focus more on programs," said Gloria Drake, a Clearbrook spokeswoman. "We're hoping down the road, the new owners might hire some of our clients, but the sale wasn't contingent on that and I'm guessing it won't happen for a while."

The cafe was located at 1859 E. Central Road next to Clearbrook Center, an Arlington Heights-based agency which offers services for people with developmental disabilities in the Northwest suburbs. When the cafe opened in 2005, its goal was to employee Clearbrook clients and raise funds for the agency by selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Seattle's Best Coffee.

However through the years the business venture became a financial drain, Drake said.

"We hoped at some point to make it profitable for us, but we couldn't put in the effort to make it grow," she said. "This year we lost half a million dollars thanks to budget cuts and have to concentrate on other things."

Drakes declined to say how much money the cafe lost.

The new Italian restaurant, called Tuscany's, should open in about six weeks. On Wednesday painters finished a colorful mural covering one of the restaurant's walls.

"Our specialties are fresh seafood, steaks, veal and chicken," said owner Dino Murati. "And we'll have homemade pasta and soups as well."

Murati spent $22,000 on the pasta machine alone, he said.

Tuscany's will also feature outdoor seating and a full bar. The restaurant will seat about 75 people and additional 20 outside. Most dinners will cost between $12 and $15. Slices of pizza will be sold for $3 during lunch.

Tuscany's will be open for lunch and dinner Mondays through Saturdays. On Sundays, the eatery will be closed for private parties, Murati said.