Opera House mixes history, upscale dining
An interview with Nina Petkov, director of sales and events at Opera House Steak & Seafood.
Q: Explain the history of the business. How did it get started?
A: Mike and Cassie Vaughn started with HopScotch & Vine, and Blu Bar both are located in downtown Plainfield within a block from each other. HopScotch & Vine is a casual dining venue and Blu Bar is an upscale martini bar.
They had great success with the first two locations and wanted to bring something different to the area. Opening Opera House Steak & Seafood gave another great dining experience to guests in Plainfield and surrounding communities, making it a destination spot in the Southwest suburbs.
Q: Tell us a little bit about the venues.
A: Opera House is an upscale Steak & Seafood restaurant located in the historic landmark 1800s Opera House in Downtown Plainfield. Opened nearly 2 years ago Opera House celebrates the history of the building with its 1920s ambience including flapper and gangster attire and boasts prime steaks & seafood, extensive wine list and a prohibition style cocktail menu.
It also offers a private dining room perfect for social and corporate events, giving you that unique atmosphere for a memorable experience. Being in the heart of downtown Plainfield guests can also stroll down Lockport street and check out other great local businesses in the area so you don't lose that quaint hometown feel.
Q: Tell us one interesting fact about the area that most people may not know.
A: Plainfield's main thoroughfare, Lockport Street, was chosen as the route of the Lincoln Highway, which began in 1913. The road was the first paved, transcontinental highway and stretched from New York to San Francisco.
Later, when U.S. Route 66 crossed the Lincoln Highway in the heart of the village, Plainfield was at the intersection of the two longest highways in the world. Plainfield is Will County's oldest community. The Opera House resides in Plainfield's Downtown Historic district right near the only place in The United States where Route 66 and Route 30 meet.
Q: What do you offer when it comes to corporate meetings?
A: The great thing about hosting a meeting with us is that it is completely quiet with no distractions. We offer different lunch and dinner menus and can always customize menus as well. We have Audio Visual capabilities great for any presentation or speaker.
Our private spaces are not your typical conference room, giving your meeting more of a unique feel. We also use local businesses in the area to buy our produce and meats for the restaurants. We take pride in supporting our community and making sure our guests have the freshest ingredients.
Q: Describe the atmosphere.
A: Rich in history, Opera House was built in the 1800s as a performance venue for live Opera performances. Today it has much of the original architecture and décor, making it a memorable place to have dinner or host a private event.
Q: What are people in your industry talking about? What's trending?
A: Atmosphere and ambience have become important in a superb dining experience. Décor and how a guest feels goes hand in hand with excellent food and is strongly relatable to a high rating by guests. Terrific service is also something I hear a lot of clients mention, which believe it or not, can be hard to come by.
Most of our employees have been with us for 3+ years and really make you feel comfortable in our establishment. They really pay attention to detail and making sure every guest feels right at home.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself. What is your past experience in the industry?
A: Prior to joining the Opera House team, I was an event manager at Pinstripes Oakbrook and Main Event. During my time at Main Event Entertainment I opened multiple locations throughout the U.S. as their corporate sales trainer. With over a decade of experience in the hospitality and events industry, I was eager for the opportunity to take the position as Director of Sales for The Vaughn's. I'm a native to the Southwest suburbs.
It's really exciting to take on a new work venture, but this time closer to home for myself, remembering great memories with friends and family growing up in the area. With Hopscotch & Vine, Blu and The Opera House, Mike and Cassie Vaughn encapsulate a sense of home with their unique family-owned businesses, and I really wanted to be a part of just that. I look forward to bringing that same feeling to those wanting to celebrate memorable events with their families and friend at our venues in the heart of downtown Plainfield.
Q: List two Facebooks accounts that you would suggest following and why?
A: Please follow us on Facebook for any upcoming special events or promotions we may be running. We also encourage our guests to leave any fun memorable comments or pictures they had with us. facebook.com/operahouseplainfield and facebook.com/Hopscotchplainfield/
Opera House Steak & Seafood
Address: 24027 W. Lockport St., Plainfield IL 60544
Owners: Mike & Cassie Vaughn
Number of employees: 40
When business opened: October 2016
Web address: <a href="http://www.operahouseplainfield.com">operahouseplainfield.com</a>