Business: Patelli’s
Address: 572 Weston Ridge Drive, Naperville
Phone: 331-213-7173
Co-owner/manager: Imran Patel, 32, of Skokie
Years in business: 10 months
What does your business do? “We have burgers, Italian beef, hot dogs, Polish sausage. Basically, we are the Halal version of Portillo’s,” Patel said.
What is Halal? “It’s a way of preparing the meat. Like kosher. Pork is prohibited, just like the Jewish people. Halal is a Muslim kosher meat. … I figured out my Muslim people would like this. Nowadays, the young kids love this kind of food. … I am the only place selling Halal Italian beef in Naperville. Polish (sausage) as well. And bacon, but it’s beef bacon. Not pork bacon. I don’t sell pork.”
What makes Halal different? “Usually, the other meats in America, the cow or animal is slaughtered by machine. Halal is hand-slaughtered by Muslims. Before slaughtering, we pray. You have the Holy Bible. We have the Koran. We pray before. Thank you, God, you give us good food.”
What was it like starting out? “We bought this place, my uncle and I, 10 months ago. This place looked horrible before. It was fast food, different menu, different environment. … Remodeled. Spent a lot of money. So, now this place looks better. But it’s not completed. I have a lot to do. … I ordered carpets, new coolers, a coffee machine is on the way.”
How did you select the menu? “I did it myself. I went to the market for what people are looking for.”
What’s popular? “Our most popular item is the gyro. My special gyro is called the fiesta gyro. A regular gyro has the gyro sauce and onions. My fiesta gyro is spicy. I put jalapeno and chili flakes on it. A little extra. People love it. … Our burgers are popular too.”
What is the reaction from people who try Halal meat the first time? “They like it. They can tell the difference in the taste.”
What should people know? “Our French fries are not frozen. I sell fresh, hand-cut fries. That’s big. It takes a lot of time to make them, but the taste is really good. There’s a lot of effort. … I’m looking for a slushy machine for the kids.”
How’s your business doing? “Business is not doing well, but it’s OK. (I think) it’s because of the weather and my store is not completed. I’m waiting for the right time to have our grand opening. I’ll do it next month, as soon as possible.”
You’re not the only fast food place in Naperville. What challenges do you face? “I know my food is good. My prices are reasonable. My food is about quality. I’m not compromising my quality and the most special thing is my food is Halal. That’s the big thing. And most of my customers are local. … There’s a large Muslim community in the area. This place is for all of them, for everyone.”
How do you get the word out? “I have my social media team. Now people do marketing on social media, that’s it. TikTok. Instagram.”
More Top Picks How To Write A Parent Input Letter For An Iep
What’s your background? “I’ve worked in this business for five years. I had a bubble tea place. Now, that’s not as popular.”
You’re located near Route 59, does that help? “Yes. If you do something good, people will come back.”
Do you want other locations? “Yes, for sure. My next target location is downtown Chicago and other popular suburbs like Lombard. Orland Park is good. Oswego. Plainfield.”
How many employees work here? “Three. … I know how to cook. I enjoy it.”
What are your hours? “Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.”
When are you busy? “Lunch, 11:30 to 1:30 or sometimes 2 or 2:30. On the weekends, Friday and Saturday nights. Sunday morning is slow. … Soon, I’m going to add breakfast items. Egg and meat sandwiches, croissants, pepper and egg sandwiches, omelettes.”
Where are you from? “Pakistan. I came here four and a half years ago. I love it. I Love everything here. The people. I keep my customers happy.”
What do first-time customers say? “There’s a tinge of heat. … It’s phenomenal,” Nicholas Rafacz, 30, of Bolingbrook, said of the mega fiesta gyro.
“Very good. … I think they really put some thought into each item,” Mustafa Sheikh, 30, of Naperville, who ate a Zinger burger, said on March 30.
What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “It depends on your choice, your expertise. If you want to start any business, you have to learn the business. (You have to) work in that business for at least two years.”
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. If you know of a business you’d like to see profiled in Down to Business, contact him at [email protected].