Leland Legends opening soon in historic Leland Tower

DOWNTOWN AURORA - The tagline of Leland Legends is "laughter, lore and libations." Helen Nowak and Lauren Jones said the love is there, too.

"It's on the inside," said Jones, who is the hospitality manager for Karademas Hospitality's Aurora efforts, which include Leland Tower and the former Elks Club both on Stolp Avenue.

Jones is currently focused on the ground floor of Leland Tower that until recently housed Midtown Pub and Grill. Jones, Nowak's daughter, is working to renovate the location and announced the new name today with Nowak, manager of Karademas Management in Aurora, at a meeting to plan a New Year's Eve event in downtown.

The mother and daughter team are hopeful that the new restaurant will be open by May 1, but they are not announcing an official opening date yet.

When open, Leland Legends will serve lunch and dinner and will welcome everyone.

"I want it to be comfortable... A friendly, comfortable place," said Jones, who has a long history in hospitality, but was most recently a certified nursing assistant.

Jones said that Leland Legends will be family-friendly and can be a place for a business dinner as well as a casual lunch.

A new color palette , a new floor, and some remodeling will welcome diners this spring, but the same good food will remain as chef Carlos Montoya is still on staff. Montoya is known for his fish tacos, nachos, and other favorites.

Nowak and Jones are also planning on featuring small, live music acts at the restaurant, which pays homage to the great blues history of Leland Tower, and it's famed Sky Club, which is now loft apartments.

Nowak also announced that the renovated second floor mezzanine will be called Sky Club. The public got a sneak peek of the space on March 4 during a Pop Up Shop that was part of First Fridays in Downtown Aurora.