By Dee Longfellow
A measure passed by the Elmhurst Zoning & Planning Commission (ZPC) was headed to the Development, Planning & Zoning (DPZ) Committee of the Elmhurst City Council on Monday, Aug. 26.
The results of that meeting were unknown at press time, but the warm reception of the idea by the ZPC certainly indicates it should be a slam dunk. After the committee’s approval, the measure goes before the full City Council.
The ZPC unanimously approved the plans for a development that will expand the property at 126 N. York by combining it with 132 N. York. The applicant, local restauranteur Tony Gambino, gave a presentation to the commission at its meeting Tuesday, Aug. 20, explaining not only the vision for the project but how it will contribute to the community.
“Our goal was to beautify the buildings we own and to create beautiful outdoor seating for Victory Meat and Seafood [restaurant] that was not on public property,” Gambino said. “When COVID-19 came around, it had a large impact on restaurants. Elmhurst was one of the better communities to be in during COVID. [The City] supported our right to stay open and they created some great initiatives like the street parklet seating. This allowed us to operate through a very difficult time.”
Recognizing that parklets might be fine for restaurants but not necessarily for other businesses, Gambino came up with the design for this development.
By joining the 126 and 132 N. York properties, a park-like seating area will be built around an 800 square-foot greenhouse with 40 seats on the inside and 50 seats outdoors in a lounge area around a fireplace. Brickwork will match that of the York Building and some landscaping elements will match those at the HB Jones restaurant (now Golden Boy Barbeque) on the corner of York and Vallette, also owned by Gambino.
The building just south at 124 N. York will be remodeled for an upscale coffee and sandwich shop called Hero Coffee.
“It closes at 3 p.m. and will utilize the newly created outdoor space during the daytime with Victory Meat and Seafood using it at night,” Gambino said.
If approved, Gambino anticipates the completion of the project by the spring of 2025.
