by BRIAN NADIG About a dozen smash-and-grab-style commercial burglaries in Edgebrook, Jefferson Park and Portage Park were reported to have occurred early Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, in the 16th (Jefferson read story
Crosby’s Kitchen planned for former Wildwood Tavern site at Touhy & Caldwell in Niles; TIF subsidies approved
by BRIAN NADIG
Crosby’s Kitchen, a member of the Four Star Restaurant Group, could open as early as next spring inside the former Wildwood Tavern, 6480 W. Touhy Ave., as the Village of Niles plans to help subsidize the redevelopment project.
“We will be using a live wood grill,” owner Derek Retell said, describing the cuisine as “classic American.” The menu for the Crosby’s at 3455 N. Southport Ave. includes ribs, rigatoni, pork chops, salmon, crab cakes, salads, sandwiches, burgers, cornbread and soups.
The Village of Niles Trustees last month approved up to $1.6 million in tax increment financing subsidies for the project, including $600,000 for land assemblage and $1 million for infrastructure improvements.
The subsidies are intended to offset the “extraordinary” expenses for the project, according to a village staff report. One of the goals of TIF-subsidized projects is to increase the value of vacant or underdevelopment properties in order to generate more tax revenue after the project is completed.
“The developer envisions investing over $3.5 million into a complete redevelopment of the interior and exterior of the property to revitalize the blighted restaurant and put it back into productive use,” the report states. Wildwood Tavern closed late last year.
Plans call for a “complete gut rehab of the exterior and interior,” Retell said.
Four Star also operates Frasca, Smoke Daddy, Remington’s, Ella Elli, Tuco and Blondie, and The Perch Kitchen and Tap, all located in Chicago.
Retell said that he is excited to have an opportunity to be operating a restaurant so close to his home, as he has lived in the Sauganash-Lincolnwood area for the past 14 years.
“Everyone has been welcoming and encouraging,” Retell said. “We feel it’s a partnership (with the village).”
In the 1950s a Howard Johnson’s restaurant opened on the site.
Wildwood Tavern was operated by Mark and Ellie Freedman, who also once operated Myron and Phil’s in Lincolnwood.
No Pop-Ups
Weekly Digital Edition
Read every story. Skip every pop-up.
Get the full weekly edition delivered to your inbox — no interruptions, no waiting. Just local news the way it was meant to be read.
Only $19.50/year — less than 38¢ a week
Subscribe Now
This is just part of today’s coverage. Get the full story - every article, every ad, every page. Subscribe now.
The Latest From Our Community
by BRIAN NADIG At least nine smash-and-grab-style commercial burglaries in Edgebrook, Jefferson Park and Portage Park were reported to have occurred early Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, in the 16th (Jefferson read story
by BRIAN NADIG Violent offenses reportedly are down 34 percent on the CTA from a year ago as the agency targets a section of the Red Line where criminals are read story
Two men reported that a man fired shots at them at about 12:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, in the 5300 block of West Berteau Avenue, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police. A 25-year-old man reported that read story
The second annual “Sip and Shop” in “Jeff West” will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, running along Lawrence Avenue from Austin Avenue on the west and Major Avenue read story
by BRIAN NADIG The site of a former auto repair garage at 4301 W. Montrose Ave. would be used for storage and outdoor training for an entertainment-related trade union under read story
Browse by Category
No Pop-Ups
Weekly Digital Edition
Read every story.
Skip every pop-up.
No pop-up ads — ever. Just stories, the way they were meant to be read
Full weekly edition delivered to your inbox every week — no waiting, no missing issues
Support local journalism and help keep our community connected
Only $19.50/year
That's less than 38¢ a week
Purchase Digital Subscription
Paypal
$19.50
/year
You can submit your payment via Paypal with a Credit Card. You DO NOT NEED TO HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT.. Just click the “Paypal Subscribe” button below to iniate your secure payment! You will be directed to a Secure Paypal page in which you can pay with a Paypal account if you have one, or you can select "Pay with Debit or Credit Cardt" option below and process your payment via credit card.
Venmo
$19.50
/year
You can submit payment of $19.50 for a 1 year subscription to Nadig Newspapers' Venmo account using this link. Please include the email address in the comment/note section that you would like the digital subscription sent to.