The recent sudden closing of Thassos Greek Restaurant at 1 Walker Ave. leaves its downtown Clarendon Hills storefront vacant and awaiting its fifth eatery since Scapa Italian Kitchen closed at the end of 2016.
Thassos opened in 2022, and according to Danny Glover of The Glover Team, a real estate company representing the building owner, the restaurant closed because Thassos’ owner has been dealing with health issues over the past year.
Ed Cage, the Clarendon Hills director of community and economic development, said the village was not informed in advance by Thassos operators that it was closing.
“We are working with the building owner on recruiting a new restaurant for this location,” Cage said.
Glover, whose company has successfully placed new restaurants in other communities, is looking forward to doing the same in Clarendon Hills and believes the continued turnover at 1 Walker Ave. can be halted.
“In our opinion, operator strength and experience is crucial in the restaurant industry,” he said.
One restaurant that attempted to thrive at 1 Walker was Thipi Thai, which already had a location in La Grange, but lasted in Clarendon Hills only from April 2018 to October 2019. Owner Tony Soto said at the time that the closing was the result of three main factors: an inability to find enough employees, a space that was too large for a restaurant that got most of its business from carry-out and delivery, and difficulty of customers in finding the location.
Glover said his business is looking to make the most of this opportunity for the community.
“We have heard people loud and clear,” he said. “Clarendon Hills wants the next hot spot, and we have every intention on delivering. In speaking with the village, the hope is to bring something to town that the community desires. We have heard things like steakhouse, breakfast, tavern, Mexican, amongst others.”
As for a timetable to see a new restaurant open, Glover said it depends on which is chosen.
“We have heard from some groups that would require minimal work and quick turnaround, and others that envision a great deal of redesign to accommodate their concept and brand, which could take several months,” he said, adding that the existing location “could operate today.”
“The current working condition is likely better than most restaurants currently operating,” he said.
Glover said his firm already has interest from restaurant groups that are eyeing expansion to the suburbs from Chicago.
“Essentially, a lot of their decisions are going to depend on the village’s decision to grant TIF (tax increment financing) in the way that they have for Sparrow and others,” he said.
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Clarendon Hills assistant village manager Mera Johnson said as of last week the village has not received requests from any prospective future tenants.
“If we do, we will evaluate, based on our TIF policy and put it before the Village Board for approval,” she said.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.