The downtown Clarendon Hills storefront previously occupied by Scapa’s Italian Kitchen and then Thipi Thai will have a new restaurant opening in October, if plans of the building’s new owner and partner play out.
Dr. Raj Bhorade purchased the building and has teamed up with longtime friend, Janes Kupka, who has a long history in operating restaurants in Chicago and will be general manager and operating partner of Walkers Bar & Grill, 1 Walker Ave.
Bhorade is a Downers Grove physician whose specialty is interventional radiology.
Kupka said he and Bhorade had been looking for a location to open a new restaurant and chose Clarendon because “it’s so very different.”
“It seems more youth and family oriented than nearby places,” Kupka said. “We’ve already seen an incredible interest from people walking by. This won’t be a destination restaurant, it’s a place for the neighborhood, and I haven’t seen more children anywhere in a long time. There are so many kids and families here.”
The strategy of Walkers Bar & Grill not being a destination eatery is unusual in Clarendon Hills, as it is a small town with no well-used direct access through the downtown. But Kupka believes the new restaurant can do just fine with much of its business coming from Clarendon Hills residents.
“It’s an American bar and grill, a place where you can come once a week, instead of once a month,” he said. Kupka said one room inside will be very family oriented. There also will be a separate bar area, private party room and outdoor seasonal dining.
“We’ll do happy hour specials in the bar and are planning to add 12 draft beers and a Bavarian pretzel,” Kupka said.
The menu will include burgers, other sandwiches, salads, various entrees and tavern-style pizza.
“We want to take advantage of carryout, too, because people are often very busy,” Kupka said.
While the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in severe challenges for many businesses, Kupka believes it won’t have a negative impact on Walkers Bar & Grill.
“Looking all around, DuPage County has an incredibly low incidence of Covid,” he said. “I think people definitely want to go out, and we plan for this to be a place where they feel very comfortable coming, and coming back regularly.”
Thipi Thai closed in October 2019, after 1 1/2 years in business. Scapa’s closed Dec. 31, 2016, following about an eight-year run.
The co-owner of Thipi Thai, Tony Soto, said the business was closed because the space was too large, as a majority of customers took advantage of carryout or delivery, rather than dining in, and a problem with finding enough employees.