Back in 1982, long before Chicago Premium Outlets opened in Aurora, 19-year-old Pete Andriopoulos and his family opened Papa Bear Restaurant on Farnsworth Avenue.
He chose the name because he said it sounded like a good CB handle that truckers passing through on Interstate 88 could use when looking for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
“We have a little bit of everything,” Andriopoulos said. “We had more and condensed it. Years ago we wanted a big menu but now we keep the good sellers.” Those would be the breakfast dishes like the omelets, skillets and frittatas, and lunch and dinner items like gyros, Reuben sandwiches, Philly beef and burgers, he said.
“Everyone has their own taste,” Andriopoulos said, adding that because of Papa Bear Restaurant’s prime location, customers are not just truckers and families traveling the interstate, but hungry international customers wanting a break from the mall across the street.
“Eighty percent of our customers are from Aurora but if drivers are traveling off the expressway, they can be from one mile to 1,000 miles away, or from Europe here on business who want to shop. China, Japan, Europe, the Middle East, it’s amazing all the people we see,” he said.
“It makes every day a little bit different. My heart is in this business, it’s in the family. When you love what you do it’s an adventure.”
On the menu: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, from omelets to pancakes to club sandwiches to stir fry and steak.
Philosophy: “In this business, it’s not really us that make the place, it’s the employees. You can say ‘This is what I want’ but it’s the people. Treat them fair and nice,” Andriopoulos said.
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Decor: “It’s more like a family restaurant, clean, crisp and comfortable,” he said, adding the last remodel was 10 years ago.
We’re different because: “Great employees, food is excellent, keep up as much as possible. The location makes a difference. People know we’re here this long and we’re still here. Lots of places are gone after five years but we’re on top of everything we do,” Andriopoulos said.
Price range: Breakfast: Eggs from $6.99 to $9.99. Breakfast sandwiches for $4.49. Biscuits and gravy for $5.49 and $6.49. Frittatas from $8.99 to $9.29. Steak and eggs from $9.49 to $14.99. Breakfast combos for $7.99. Skillets from $8.99 to $11.99. Pancakes from $4.99 to $7.99. Waffles from $5.99 to $8.99. French toast for $5.99 and $7.99. Crepes from $6.99 to $8.99. Oatmeal and yogurt from $3.99 to $5.49. Meat sides from $3.29 to $3.99. Sides from 99 cents to $2.99. Smoothies for $3.99 and $4.99. Lunch and dinner: Appetizers from $3.49 to $6.99. Paninis and wraps for $7.49 and $7.99. Burgers and sandwiches from $6.49 to $10.99. Taco and burrito plates for $8.99. Dinners from $10.99 to $19.99. Pasta and chicken from $10.99 to $12.99. Mexican dishes from $9.99 to $14.99. Hot open face sandwiches for $10.99. Half sandwich and bowl of soup for $7.99. Salads and cold plates from $8.99 to $10.99.
Logistics: Papa Bear Restaurant is at 2340 N. Farnsworth Ave., Aurora. 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Contact 630-851-1055 or go to papabearrestaurant.com.
Shonda Talerico Dudlicek is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.