Anthem Grill might replace Marlowe's in Palatine

Two months after Marlowe's sudden closure, a group has come forward with what it hopes will be a long-lasting venture in southern Palatine.

The Anthem Grill is on its way to opening in the now-vacant building in Regency Plaza at Quentin and Euclid roads.

"This will be a family-oriented restaurant and sports bar," said Chris Tsolinas on behalf of Anthem Grill LLC. "We're a hybrid."

On Monday, the Palatine Village Council approved transferring a special use from Marlowe's to the proposed establishment. Building permits and a liquor license still need to be issued. Assuming they are, five or six months' worth of construction could start in mid-November.

The building has seen plenty of turnover. Since Marlowe's opened in the mid-1990s on one side, Tamale Wally's, Toscana and most recently Marlowe's banquet services came and went in the other half.

Similarly, the Anthem Grill would be divided into a restaurant on one side and a sports bar on the other.

"We don't want to get too high-end and shut out the sports fans but not too low where we're just serving cheese sticks," said Tsolinas.

Instead, a draft of the menu - which Palatine required to transfer the special use - includes the typical finger foods, salads, sandwiches, pizza, fish and pasta.

Tsolinas is confident the restaurant would draw from crowds attending football games and other events at Fremd High School, less than a mile north.

"There's nothing like this close to Fremd," said Tsolinas. "You have to go to downtown Palatine, and even some of those places turn into nightclubs."

Tsolinas said the Anthem Grill would stay open until 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Among Anthem Grill's partners are Jim Carlstrom and his family, who also support the Wool Street Grill eateries in Barrington and Cary. They hope to sign a lease with Regency Plaza's owner, Chicago-based Mid-America Real Estate Group.