Elgin Public House owner says he’s ready to retire, seeks buyer for his downtown restaurant/pub – Chicago Tribune

Elgin Public House owner Greg Shannon is retiring and has put the downtown restaurant/pub up for sale.

“It was a difficult decision because having my own place is all I wanted since I was 13,” the 65-year-old said.

But retirement has been on his mind for some time, Shannon said, because he wants to spend time relaxing and spending time with his 13 grandchildren.

“We’re looking for a buyer who believes in the community,” he said. “We try to keep the same things. I would like to see the new people come in and continue.

Shannon had originally planned to open a restaurant in St. Charles in 2006, but when the deal fell through, her broker suggested she take a look at Elgin. He came to visit us and fell in love with the people and the city, he said.

“I thought this town really needed a pub,” Shannon said.

The Public House opened at 219 E. Chicago St. the following year.

There were early challenges, such as the construction of a road on East Chicago Street in 2008. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll.

“We adapted very well after COVID. We are still going strong,” Shannon said.

Restaurants have their ups and downs, and it’s tough to be in the business right now because of higher costs, Shannon said.

“I love this job,” he said. “But the cost of doing business is extremely high right now. It can still be done and done very well. I’m just too old. I can’t work as many hours anymore.

“My heart is still young, but my body says to me: ‘What are you doing? ” “, did he declare.

Overall, he had a good run, Shannon said.

“It’s been absolutely wonderful,” he said of being a downtown business owner. “Elgin is such a wonderful community. The people have been fantastic. Our customers are phenomenal. We have a huge base of great people.

And Shannon’s plays an important role in the downtown community, said Jennifer Fukala, executive director of the Downtown Neighborhood Association.

“I think he should be proud of having built a successful business that has become a pillar of our community,” she said.

Shannon, a self-taught chef, honed his skills in the Public House kitchen. One of the restaurant’s most popular dishes is its Sloppy Joes, with a recipe that includes chili sauce, horseradish, barbecue sauce and garlic and can be ordered with cheese and bacon. It was named one of Chicago’s best “comfort foods” by WGN-TV.

They’re also known for their wine pairing dinners, using a special skill Shannon developed over his career at weekly and holiday brunches, he said.

Shannon won’t host an Easter brunch this year because he wants his employees to enjoy the day with family, but they will keep regular hours until the business is sold. It’s unclear whether it will be in two months or six months, he said, but “once we have a buyer, we’ll let everyone know,” he said.

After that, he and his wife, Lou, who retired a few years ago, plan to travel more to see their grandchildren, but he has no plans to leave the community, he said. he declares. He will likely stay involved in some downtown events and wants to continue doing cooking demonstrations at the downtown Elgin Farmers Market.

Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.