Palatine, Illinois Business History

Palatine Masonic Lodge #314Closed

The Palatine Masonic Lodge was organized in 1859 and initially met on the third floor of what is now the Lamplighter Grill and Tavern (Wilson and Bothwell Streets). The fraternal organization built its own dedicated building in 1904 at this prominent downtown corner location. As the oldest and largest fraternity in the world, the Masons used the building for meetings, ceremonies, and community gatherings. The lodge maintained approximately 300 members at the time of relocation.

Brandt's Little CafeClosed

The Brandt family restaurant business. Joe and Romelda Brandt had moved from Detroit to the area in 1946 and opened the Highway Inn. They later operated Brandt's Restaurant and Lounge at 10 N. Northwest Highway starting in 1954. In 1968/1969, they moved their operation to 807 W Northwest Highway. The restaurant was known for burgers, ribs, and maintaining a cozy, neighborhood atmosphere. Patricia Brandt married George Grisco, and the couple took over from Joe and Romelda in the 1970s. After Patricia passed away in 2001, George struggled to keep up with rising property taxes. The restaurant ...

Hob Nob RestaurantClosed

Restaurant operating at this address before the Brandt family took over.

Pickwick HouseClosed

Restaurant that operated at this location between Nick and Al's Friendly Inn and the Hob Nob Restaurant. Limited information available.

Bob's Palatine Inn / Palatine Inn / The OfficeClosed

Opened in 1960 as Bob's Palatine Inn, the establishment was known interchangeably as "Palatine Inn" or "The Office" throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The name officially became "The Office" around 1980. The tavern served as a local gathering spot for nearly 50 years, with the playful name allowing patrons to tell their spouses they were "staying late at The Office." The bar closed in 2009, and the building was demolished in February 2010.

Roper's TavernClosed

The first tavern to occupy the historic building, marking its transition to the hospitality industry that would continue for the remainder of its existence.

Doctor's OfficesClosed

Following the building's relocation to 110 W Slade Street in 1915, it served as medical offices for various doctors over approximately two decades.

Candy Store and Newspaper AgencyClosed

After the bakery closed, the building transitioned to retail use as a candy store combined with a newspaper agency, serving the growing downtown area.

Flury's BakeryClosed

The Flurys converted the former general store into a bakery that served Palatine for approximately 30 years. The bakery continued under various owners until around 1910.

General StoreClosed

The original commercial use of Palatine's first commercial building, operating as a general store serving the newly established village that was surveyed and platted by Joel Wood in 1855.

Mac's on SladeClosed

Established in 2012. Your search for the perfect music venue ends here. Our restaurant, bar and live music brings together some of the best local bands in the city of Chicago. MAC's on Slade in Palatine, IL has come under new ownership and has new hours. Come for the food, drinks and live music. We have bands from blues, jazz, rock, folk, funk and more 5 days a week. MAC's On Slade is where music lives. Visit us today and experience great food and intimate live music! Depending upon business, we may close early. Local restaurant with a full menu while providing area musicians an opportunity...

Fire StationClosed

Rebuilt into brick building

Community HallClosed

First Village Hall & Fire StationClosed

American Legion Post 690Closed

American Legion Post 690 is a veterans' organization that was originally founded by Palatine veterans of World War I and officially chartered in 1924. After purchasing the land at the corner of Palatine Road and Greeley Street in 1922, they finally had enough funds to construct their own building by 1948. The building was completed in 1949 with two floors and a basement. The Post provides support to veterans, veteran families, and the community through: Club Room (open to the public daily) Club Hall for rental (capacity: 85 guests) Community events including bingo nights, casino nights, mo...

Busch Auto Service CenterClosed

Busch Auto Service Center was a beloved, family-owned and operated automotive repair shop and tire dealer that served Palatine and the Northwest Suburbs for nearly eight decades. Founded by John Busch (also known as John Busch Sr.), who brought his expertise as a mechanic and salesman to Palatine. The business was built with the help of his two sons, John Busch Jr. and Joseph Busch, and eventually passed to the third generation under John Busch III.

Grammy D's Family RestaurantClosed

Mexico UnoClosed

Family-owned authentic Mexican restaurant specializing in cuisine from the Guadalajara region. The restaurant was originally founded in 1989 by Juan Gonzalez at 61 N. Bothwell Street (first as "Nuevo Mexico," then renamed "Mexico Uno"). When the village condemned that property for redevelopment in 2003, the family relocated to 15 N. Brockway Street, which had previously been The Judge's Decision bar. The restaurant is now owned and operated by Jaime Gonzalez, Juan's son, maintaining three generations of family involvement.

JJ Twig's Pizza & PubClosed

JJ Twig's Pizza & Pub is a family-owned casual pizzeria specializing in thin crust and double decker pizzas. The restaurant's history actually begins in Lake Zurich, Illinois in 1983, where the original location operated successfully for over 20 years. Their pizza recipe is over 70 years old, created by "Pizza Bill" from Bill's Pizza & Pub in Mundelein. The business expanded to Wauconda in the mid-1990s. Tragically, in 2004, their beloved Lake Zurich building was destroyed by fire. The owners relocated to this Palatine location in 2005, opening "next to the tracks" (railroad tracks). The re...

Jake's PizzeriaClosed

Jake's Pizzeria was part of the Jake's Pizza chain founded by John "Jake" Flowers, who opened his first restaurant in Mount Prospect in October 1961. The Palatine location was on Northwest Highway "across from Busch's gas station."

Vittorio De Roma Italian BistroClosed

Vittorio De Roma was an upscale Italian restaurant that featured a full bar, four dining rooms, and circular tables. The restaurant served traditional Italian cuisine including pasta, pizza, and seafood. It was known for its banquet facilities and formal dining atmosphere. The restaurant operated dinner service from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM daily.

Sunglass StoreClosed

Side of the road sunglass store

Pizza BellaClosed

Pizza Bella opened at this historic location with a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 6, 2024, attended by Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz and a large crowd. The celebration included a champagne toast and even a priest sprinkling holy water. Pizza Bella is an authentic Italian restaurant specializing in Detroit-style pizza, Chicago-style thin crust, and deep-dish pizza (available on Sundays). Owner Tony DeFilippis, who first opened Pizza Bella in Palatine over 15 years ago at a different location (100 W. Northwest Highway in Clock Tower Plaza), transformed the historic hardware store into ...

Zimmer HardwareClosed

Zimmer Hardware was Palatine's oldest continuous business and a beloved community institution. Founded by Albert Zimmer in 1883, the store initially opened at the corner of Bothwell and Slade streets before moving to 16 N. Brockway Street shortly after, where it operated for 136 consecutive years. Ownership History: 1883-1958: Founded and operated by Albert Zimmer and his family. After Zimmer's death, his stepdaughter Lydia Wienecke and her nephew Howard Freeman ran the business until Lydia died in 1958. 1958-1972: Freeman family members continued to live above the hardware store and opera...

Durty Nellie'sClosed

Durty Nellie's has been a friendly, neighborhood tavern since 1972. The "bigger and better" Durty Nellie's at 180 N. Smith Street opened its doors on December 19, 2003 and has since become the top live music venue in the Chicago Suburban area.

JL's Pizza and Sports BarClosed

Pizza restaurant and sports bar with completely updated interior. Specializes in pizza, calzones, and panzerotti, plus full menu with pastas, wings, ribs, burgers. Official Chicago Blackhawks and Bears bar. Family-friendly atmosphere with sports viewing. Private party space for up to 45 people.

Mister DonutClosed

Mister Donut was a national donut chain founded in Boston in 1956. This Palatine location opened in 1964 (some sources indicate 1965) as part of the chain's expansion throughout the U.S. The shop served traditional American-style donuts, coffee, and pastries using the classic Mister Donut recipes and branding. The shop maintained the chain's iconic orange and white color scheme.

Splinters Sports PubClosed

Splinters Sports Pub was a long-running neighborhood sports bar at 2070 N. Rand Road in Palatine, famous for its casual atmosphere, pub fare, and local regulars. Over its decades of operation, it earned a reputation as a community gathering spot before eventually closing.

Hot Dog RichiesClosed

Known for hot dogs (including a specialty called the “Augie Dog” — jumbo hot dog wrapped in bacon & cheddar) plus Italian beef sandwiches, polish sausages, burgers, gyros

Palatine DrugClosed

Dr. Starck's Hospital / Palatine State BankClosed

The building underwent a significant transformation with Dr. Starck establishing a hospital on the second floor while the Palatine State Bank occupied the first floor. The 1918 photograph shows the substantial two-story brick building labeled as 'Palatine Community Hospital.' Dr. Starck provided medical services to the community from the upper floor while banking services were available on the ground level. The bank later relocated to its own building.

TavernClosed

After the wagon shop closed, the building was converted to a tavern. The 1890 photograph shows the building with its distinctive tower/turret architectural feature. This establishment served as a social gathering place for the growing Palatine community during the 1890s and early 1900s.

Wagon ShopClosed

Mac And Al's BarClosed

From approximately 1956-1975 the building was owned by Al Zwirblis and was known as Mac and Al's Bar.

Dick's TavernClosed

Dick’s Tavern was opened in the early 1930s after Dick Sanford purchased the building. Around 1934, an unknown gunman entered the bar and shot Sanford’s daughter Alice, a piano player named Ed Batterman, and then turned the gun on himself. Batterman and the gunman both died. Alice sustained a gunshot wound to the head and lived out her days in a nursing home; she was unable to speak or communicate with others. A motive for the shootings never was determined.

India Foodie LoungeClosed

Yagnesh Patel grew up in Nadiad, India - a city in the west central part of the country. As a young man, Patel immigrated to the U.S. with other members of his family and settled in the far western Chicago suburb of Bartlett. With a background as an Indian chef and in hospitality, he opened the first of now three India Foodie Lounge locations in Bartlett in 2019.

Garsillo's Italian Bar & GrillClosed

Portofino's Woodfire Pizza & PastaClosed

Portofino's Woodfire Pizza and Pasta opened in June at 383 W. Northwest Hwy. on the former site of El Torero. Restaurant highlights will include a wood-burning brick oven for what's billed as old-world pizza and high-end northern Italian-style pasta. Pizza toppings will go beyond the usual, with choices such as fried eggplant, broccoli rabe and Gaeta olives. Owned by shopping center owner Manny Rafidia.

El ToreroClosed

Teresa Nevarez opened El Torero in 2010, replacing a similarly named Mexican restaurant. She gave the space a fresh look with new paint and minor renovations, but kept the same Mexican cuisine from the previous tenant, Torero. The restaurant served authentic Mexican fare with a full bar, outdoor seating, and margaritas made with 100% agave tequila.

El ToreoClosed

Since 1979, a collection of family chefs has filled El Torero Restaurant & Bar's dining room with the aromas of authentic Mexican cuisine. Equipped with a catch of fresh ingredients, chefs drizzle chicken with special mole, green, and garlic sauces, and broil prime skirt steak before topping it with zucchini or poblano peppers. Tall, vibrant purple booths cradle patrons more effectively than a robotic grandmother, and floor-to-ceiling windows illuminate gentle pastel-yellow walls

Kosta's GyrosClosed

Kosta's Gyros has become a Palatine institution, serving generous portions of gyros, Greek salads, burgers, hot dogs, and other Greek-American fare. The restaurant is known for its family ownership, consistent quality, reasonable prices, and loyal customer base spanning multiple generations. One reviewer noted it's "still the same as it was in the 80's" in terms of food quality.

Kourtis GyrosClosed

In 1978, the Kourtis brothers (Greek immigrants) purchased the former gas station property and converted it into a Greek restaurant. They opened "Kourtis Gyros" in November 1978 with a focus on authentic Greek cuisine, particularly their signature gyros. The business was built on the principle of "no frills, no glory, just good food at great prices" with true Greek hospitality.

Gas StationClosed

The property at the corner of Hicks and Dundee Roads housed a gasoline service station. The specific brand name has not been documented in available records, though there was a "Dundee & Hicks Standard Service" station listed at 399 E Dundee Rd (next door). The site served as a typical mid-20th century gas station during the era when Dundee Road was densely populated with automotive services. The building structure from this period may still form the basis of the current building.

Durty Nellie's West Irish PubClosed

On **St. Patrick's Day 1972**, the most famous chapter in this building's history began when a group of airline pilots opened **Durty Nellie's West Irish Pub**. The name was inspired by the oldest pub in County Clare, Ireland, located near Bunratty Castle. **Key Facts:** - Opened: March 17, 1972 - Original owners: Group of airline pilots - 1988: Purchased by Mark Dolezal (who still owns it today with his brother Jimmy) - Final day at Bothwell location: December 2003 - Building age at closure: Over 100 years old

Jack's Old Mexican Inn and Ice Cream ParlorClosed

**Jack Wilcox** operated **Jack's Old Mexican Inn and Ice Cream Parlor** at this location. According to historical society records, Wilcox closed the bowling alley and restaurant in the mid-1950s and began operating the establishment primarily as a tavern, though the ice cream parlor component remained popular with families.

Dinse RecreationClosed

The **Dinse family** purchased the property and transformed it into a multi-purpose recreation and service facility. They had previously operated a barbershop and pool hall in the basement of the Batterman Building (located at Brockway and the railroad tracks) and moved this operation to the Bothwell Street location. - Delicatessen - Barbershop - Bowling alley (built circa 1925 at the back of the building)

Burkhardt's Shoe StoreClosed

After the livery stable closed, **Fred Folleth** opened **Burkhardt's Shoe Store** in the same location. This retail establishment operated in the former stable building for seven years during the 1920s.

Ira Frye's Livery StableClosed

The earliest documented use of this location was as a livery stable owned and operated by **Ira Frye**. Frye was a prominent local figure who served as Palatine village clerk for eight terms and also held the position of Palatine Township collector. During this era, the livery stable would have provided horses, carriages, and related services to the community.

Mia Cucina Italian TrattoriaClosed

In 1994, when Mia Cucina debuted, Crain's Chicago Business ran a profile praising its ambition, style, and food. It was created by Bill Pritts, Dan Heuerta, and executive chef Andy Webber, who also owned Spasso in Wauconda. The interior was described as blending "elegant Italian trattoria" warmth with a more barnlike brasserie feel: high trussed roofs, murals of rural scenes through "fake windows," exposed wood beams. The kitchen featured a wood-burning oven for pizzas, with an open display kitchen. The menu included some interesting/less-common items: torta rustica (a layered pie with mort...

School of Hair DesignClosed

S & H Green StampsClosed

Darol CleanersClosed

Jewel Food StoreClosed

In 1953, a Jewel Tea / Jewel Food Store opened in the building. The broader corporate history: Jewel started as Jewel Tea Company (door-to-door deliveries) in 1899, and over time expanded into grocery/retail operations. The "Jewel Food Stores" line was part of that expansion; the company merged the food-store operations with Jewel Tea operations.

Oak Alley SaloonClosed

White House InnClosed

: Family-owned neighborhood tavern/pub that opened immediately after Prohibition ended. The bar was started by Joseph Brzostowski (nicknamed "Moonshine Joe") and remained in the Brzostowski family for its entire 85-year history. The establishment featured a cozy, old-school atmosphere with wood paneling described as having a "northern Wisconsin vibe." It had a 55-person capacity and included pool tables, pinball machines, and notably, a coin-operated jukebox (15 plays for $5) - a rarity that customers particularly loved. The bar served as a true neighborhood gathering place where regulars f...

Brandt's of PalatineClosed

In January 2013, longtime Palatine residents Walt Oswald and Jimmy Iuorio purchased the restaurant to save it from auction. They renovated the building extensively over three months, updating plumbing, electric, kitchen, roof, walls, floors, and furniture, while maintaining the historic charm. They rebranded it as "Brandt's of Palatine" and reopened in April 2013. The restaurant continues to be known for its 1/2 lb burgers, ribs, cheese curds, and Wisconsin supper club atmosphere. It features the original cozy dining room inside the historic farmhouse, plus a modern covered outdoor deck.

Nick and Al's Friendly InnClosed

Post-World War II restaurant and bar that occupied the building. Limited additional information available about this establishment.

Illegal CasinoClosed

After Prohibition ended in 1933, the building continued to operate as an illegal gambling establishment. This continued until Roger Touhy was framed and imprisoned by Al Capone's organization, and control of the operation changed hands.

Speakeasy (Touhy/Kolb Operation)Closed

After purchasing the property, bootleggers Roger Touhy and Matt Kolb moved the 1883 farmhouse from Inverness to this location. They operated it as an illegal speakeasy during the final years of Prohibition. The building was part of Touhy's bootlegging empire that supplied beer throughout the Chicago northwest suburbs. The building allegedly witnessed at least one gunfight between rival gangsters during this period.

Palatine Inn RestaurantClosed

Two Greek immigrant brothers, Jim and Pete, left their hometown of Valtetsi, Greece in the early 1970s and settled in the Chicago area. They purchased the existing restaurant at 95 W Northwest Highway and opened Palatine Inn in 1978. From the beginning, the restaurant attracted local families who became loyal regulars. The brothers operated the restaurant for approximately 30 years before passing it to the second generation. Today, the restaurant is run by Pete Sarantopoulos (owner) and John Sarantopoulos, who proudly continue the family tradition established by their fathers.