Koffee Kup Restaurant celebrates 40 years
The Koffee Kup Celebrates 40 Years
Owned by the Chudik family for 40 years, the Koffee Kup Restaurant has been a much loved fixture in the old downtown Lake Zurich landscape. Joanne, the matriarch of the Chudik family, purchased the diner from Howard and Karen Branding in December of 1978 after her son Bob and her daughter Susie began working there as teenagers. It was a new beginning for Joanne as she combined her lifelong dream of owning her own business with her love of cooking for others.
At times it could be intimidating to own a business, but Joanne gained confidence as she acquired a group of "regulars" who came in frequently for the warm atmosphere, friendly conversation, and great home-cooked meals. This was the beginning of a unique business that would go on to employ many more family members including grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins who have grown to appreciate the special place the Koffee Kup has become.
The current owners, Bob and Sheila Chudik, who took over from Bob's mother Joanne in 1993, will tell you the regular customers are the reason why they continue to thrive to this day. They value each and every customer who walks through their doors and strive to make everyone feel welcomed. So many of the Koffee Kup clientele are loyal, hard-working people who value the concepts of family and community that the Koffee Kup so wonderfully encompasses. Some customers have been coming in since the Koffee Kup first opened in 1978, and Table 1 even has their portrait showcased on the wall. At the Kup, employees and customers all come together to celebrate and to grieve, to laugh and to cry, and most importantly--to eat and to drink a hot cup of coffee in a place that feels like home.
The Chudik's also feel so blessed to have exceptional employees who have worked for them for many years. They consider them to be the heart and soul of the restaurant and feel truly fortunate to have each and every one of them working at the Koffee Kup. Bob and Sheila appreciate their hard work and dedication and realize they are a large part of the Koffee Kup's continued success.
It is also worth mentioning that the Koffee Kup has maintained strong relationships with their longtime suppliers throughout the ups and downs that come along with 40 years of business. These businesses, which the Kup is so grateful for, have all been essential to the restaurant's success:
Orchard Meats-Lake Zurich, Riverside Bakery-McHenry, Wendt Associates, Millrose Country Store-South Barrington, Farmer Brothers Coffee, Reinhardt Food Service, Mahoney Environmental, Morgan Towel Service, Maestranzi Knife service.
The town of Lake Zurich is fortunate to be such a close knit community where the restaurants, Lake Zurich Bears, shops, church goers, first responders, and others all support each other in one way or another. Bob and Sheila are happy to be a part of such an intimate town and try to give back to the community whenever they can by volunteering their time and resources when called upon and are always willing to donate money to or sponsor local charities.
The resilience of the Koffee Kup cannot be denied. Many other downtown Lake Zurich businesses were not fortunate enough to outlive the downtown redevelopment plan, the effects of the Route 22 Bypass, or the economic downturn in 2008. The Koffee Kup survived, but not without the patronage of their loyal customers.
In recent years, the Koffee Kup went "high tech" and purchased a POS system that resulted in a few tears and some very colorful words from a few of our long-time servers! Everyone rejoiced when Carol, serving since the Kup's opening, finally became comfortable using the new system...and rumor has it that she even admitted to "loving it".
By far the most difficult time for the Koffee Kup was in December of 2012 when Joanne's daughter, Susie, passed away. She was a much loved server at the Koffee Kup who could always put a smile on the face of her customers, especially with her contagious laugh. She was a light in the lives of all and is greatly missed to this day.
The Koffee Kup would like to thank the town of Lake Zurich and their loyal customers for a memorable past, and looks forward to the next 40 years. The Chudik family would like to celebrate their Anniversary by offering a 40% discount all day on December 1st.