A trio of Waukegan entrepreneurs partnering to open a 1950s-style family diner in downtown Waukegan with a 21st-century twist had all the pieces in place to open The Twisted Diner except one: a liquor license. Now they have it.
Carlos Smith, an online deejay who operated an event venue in Waukegan, said the restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, likely closing around 9 p.m. Many classic dishes will be served, but many will have a creative bent or twist.
“A breakfast sandwich might be a patty between two waffles,” Smith said
Janessa Rodriguez, an owner of the Waukegan Mail Depot and another partner in The Twisted Diner, said traditional diner goods like meatloaf, a patty melt, or grilled cheese will be on the menu. But a different “twist” will be added.
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“The grilled cheese might have gouda and brie,” Rodriguez said. “It could be grilled with barbecue sauce.”
Steve Hill, one of the partners and a real estate investor, said the restaurant will not have a traditional bar. It will have a 1950s-style lunch counter where people can order a milkshake or slushy. Some slushies will have alcohol. There will be a few signature cocktails “with a twist.”
“There will not be a full-service bar at The Twisted Diner nor will there be gaming, video gaming or any gaming of any sort whatsoever,” Hill said. “We just want to help rebuild Waukegan.”
Reminiscent of an old-time diner, Rodriguez said there will be traditional drip coffee, which a server can easily refill. Adding a twist to coffee drinks, there will also be espresso with a variety of flavors.
By Monday, Rodriguez said the Twisted Diner had its business license, occupancy permit and approval of the Lake County Health Department. Though some tweaks are needed for their planned early to mid-September opening, a liquor license was still necessary.
The Waukegan City Council voted 6-3 without debate to approve a liquor license for The Twisted Diner Monday at City Hall, giving the new restaurant the final legal requirement to start serving customers.
Though council members did not explain their votes on the liquor license, besides Hill, Smith and Ridriguez, five additional members of the public spoke in favor of the restaurant’s request during audience time. They talked primarily about the establishment.
Brandon Ewing, the former president of the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education and now a member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, said he is excited to see The Twisted Diner come to the city’s central business district.
Ewing said he intends to help the city’s downtown expand, and he sees the restaurant as a welcome addition to the growth along Genesee Street. When businesses like The Twisted Diner want to open, people should work together to offer support, he said.
“An area where I hope we can work together is revitalizing downtown Waukegan,” Ewing said. “It’s been exciting to watch our downtown transform. Storefronts that sat vacant for years are now becoming home to thriving small businesses.”
Andrew Gadsden, a Waukegan native, said he sees the restaurant as a place where the city’s diverse population can gather. Remembering his youth in the 1980s, he thinks The Twisted Diner will embellish values he considers important.
“We didn’t spend much time worrying about what made us different,” Gadsden said. “We played together, we looked out for each other and we ate together. We were truly a community. That’s what I see when I think about The Twisted Diner.”
All three owners talked about their approach to attracting the entire community. Rodriguez is Hispanic, Smith is Black, and Hill said he is a gay white man. The community’s diversity will be evident in the eatery.
“We’re one of the few businesses with such diverse ownership,” Rodriguez said. “We’re a reflection of the community.”
Not limiting the restaurant to meal hours, Rodriguez said there will be free Wi-Fi for people who may stop at the Twisted Diner mid-morning or in the middle of the afternoon for work or to socialize.
“It’s a place lawyers can stop before or after court,” Rodriguez said. “People can have a business meeting. It’s a welcoming place designed to bring people together. It’s a gathering place for people to feel welcome and at home.”
Designed as a “sit-down table-service family restaurant,” The Twisted Diner has other features to meet different needs. Rodriguez said there will also be “quick grabs” available to people who want to get back to work and eat at their desk.