Jimmy’s Grill, a longtime fixture in downtown Naperville, has closed but the restaurant group behind Empire Burgers + Brew will soon reopen it first as Bev’s before undergoing a major transformation into Cali’s, the new owner said.
The Empire Restaurant Group recently took over operations from Andrew Trasatt and John Leahy; Jimmy’s closed in October after 24 years.
The building’s facade has already been stripped off and inside work has started as the preliminary step in its conversion into a two-story operation with an outdoor rooftop patio.
“It’s going to be a very big project but it should look pretty awesome,” restaurant owner Will Cullen said.
The goal is to get some of the indoor work done as quickly as possible so employees can be brought back for its short-term reopening as Bev’s, an eatery focused on comfort food, he said.
The restaurant’s name is an homage to Bev Patterson Frier, the longtime owner of the 245 S. Washington St. property on which the restaurant’s patio area and front section are located, Cullen said.
“(Cullen) called me and asked me to use my name,” Patterson Frier said. “I told him I don’t know what good it will do but, sure, you can do it. … My number one (thing) is I like to help hometown people.”
Bev’s will be open six to nine months before they close again for the final transformation into Cali’s — short for California — a more upscale operation specializing in steaks and seafood, Cullen said.
“The plan was to do something different and expand what types of restaurants we have under the Empire umbrella,” he said.
That umbrella includes three other downtown Naperville businesses — Empire Burgers + Brew at 48 W. Chicago Ave.; Hizemans, a higher-end sports bar at 218 S. Washington St.; and The Northcott Liquorette, described as a “neighborhood speakeasy,” at 50 W. Chicago Ave. — and Ballydoyle Irish Pub locations in Aurora and Downers Grove.
For the remodel of Jimmy’s, they plan to build out the restaurant’s footprint, create the rooftop patio and make major cosmetic changes, Cullen said.
“At some point, we will have to close the restaurant,” he said. “As you can see, it will be an extensive restoration. But we will try to be closed as short as possible.”
They are shooting for a late 2022 opening, Cullen said.