The Oswego Village Board recently approved a loan and grant for a new breakfast and lunch restaurant planned in the village’s downtown.
The owner of Wholey Granoly – with an established eatery in Bolingbrook – is looking to open a second location at 121 S. Main St. in downtown Oswego at the former site of The Dairy Barn, which closed a few years ago. The building has been vacant since 2022.
Chris Ciezak, the restaurateur, requested $125,000 in loan funding and the maximum $40,000 grant award to help offset high building material and construction costs in the current market, village officials said.
Village Board President Ryan Kauffman said the response from residents to the possibility of the breakfast and lunch restaurant opening in the downtown has been “overwhelmingly positive.”
“People are absolutely thrilled about you being here,” Kauffman said.
The loan and grant are contingent on the tenant securing a lease. The financial incentive is for “substantial renovations” to the property, village officials said.
“This represents a total financial assistance package of $165,000 for the project. The requested incentive amount is based upon a total project budget of approximately $365,000,” Oswego Economic Development Director Kevin Leighty said in a report to trustees.
The remaining balance of the project costs are being covered by up to $200,000 of personal equity being contributed by the owner of the proposed restaurant, Leighty said.
Leighty said village staff recognizes the building at the site is still relatively new. However, the tenant has identified the need for several functional and operational improvements, such as a new hood system and related iron work enclosing an exterior patio to generate additional seating.
The tenant has also proposed installing new signage and purchasing equipment and furniture better suited for a full-service restaurant, Leighty said.
There are two contingencies – the lease is still being worked out and ensuring that the restaurant is open within six months of the approval of the economic incentive agreement, he said.
Wholey Granoly will bring a menu concept with a focus on “natural and clean,” Ciezak said.
“We eliminate inflammatory ingredients that causes gut irritation while also stacking on highly nutrient-dense foods so you can actually absorb nutrition from your food and feel good after you eat,” Ciezak said.
“It is real food made better and it makes you feel well,” he said.
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Dietary options, including gluten-free and vegetarian cuisine, will be available as well, he said.
The owner expects to draw diners from Naperville and surrounding communities.
“We believe this will be a huge driver of new customers to downtown Oswego,” he said.
“I am very excited to hear you are coming to our town,” Oswego Village Board member Karen Novy said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.