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Accommodation & Food Services

High-Volume Long-Established Family Restaurant DeKalb County – 55+Years!

Chicago, IL, USA
Listed 61 days ago

High-Volume Long-Established Family Restaurant DeKalb County – Over 55 Years! "A Beloved Diner With Over Five Decades Of Proven Success" Become the next owner of one of DeKalb County's most recognized and enduring family restaurants. Successfully serving the community for more than 55 years, this highly respected independent restaurant has built an outstanding reputation for exceptional and made-from-scratch comfort food and hospitality, plus an incredibly loyal multigenerational customer base. This is a true turnkey operation that has become a local institution, attracting repeat guests who have been dining here for decades while continually welcoming new customers from surrounding schools, businesses, neighborhoods and visitors to the area. Many families have made this restaurant part of their weekly tradition, creating an exceptionally stable foundation for continued success. Their menu features an extensive selection of breakfast, lunch and dinner favorites, with its all-day breakfast as one of the restaurant's biggest traffic drivers. Guests return time and again for hearty skillets, omelets, pancakes and waffles, as well as fresh salads, homemade soups, sandwiches, burgers, hand-cut steaks and other comfort food classics, plus rotating daily specials. Its broad menu appeals to customers of every age and demographic, generating consistent business throughout the day and week. Also, the diner’s warm and welcoming dining room offers a nostalgic atmosphere unlike anything else on the market. Its unique theme and classic décor has created a memorable dining experience that has delighted generations of guests and differentiates the restaurant from typical diners and chains. Coupled with the restaurant’s commitment to quality ingredients, homemade recipes and attentive service has resulted in an extremely loyal customer following, strong word-of-mouth referrals and decades of repeat business. Business Highlights Asset sale - all furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) included. 2025 sales over $837,000! Feel free to stop by the location as a customer first. This is a HIGHLY confidential listing, DO NOT talk to any owners, employees or patrons. If interested, please click on the orange Contact Broker button on the right to complete the Buyer Profile form. Showings by appointment only outside of business hours.

Location

Prime retail space along one of the county's primary commercial corridors, the restaurant enjoys outstanding visibility, easy accessibility, ample parking and excellent traffic exposure. As well as a central location surrounded by higher education institutions, major employers, retail shopping, schools and established residential neighborhoods. This prime setting helps generate a steady mix of students, professionals, families, retirees, local residents and travelers throughout the week. Location Highlights Ample customer parking with easy access Excellent visibility on a major commercial corridor Minutes from downtown DeKalb Close to a major university Near major employers Convenient to residential neighborhoods Easy access from Sycamore & surrounding communities

Employees

15

Lease Terms

Leased space $6,776/mth gross. Current lease expires Dec 2029 with one 5-year option. Lease Security Deposit: $6,400.

Real Estate

Lease

Trading Hours

Mo-Sa 7a-8p & Su 7a-4p

Management Type

This business is owner operated.

Premises Details

Year Established: 1969 (Current Owners 2023). Seating: 165 Inside. Owners Role: Owner operated - active day-to-day.

Years Established

Over 55 Years

Support & Training

Negotiable on-site comprehensive training.

Expansion Potential

True original. Legendary diner. Landmark restaurant with deep roots in the community. Institution on campus. Staple in town. Local favorite. Area gem. A must stop for breakfast, lunch and dinner. THE meeting place. The “go-to” restaurant. As well as a university tradition. Loved by all. The most popular family restaurant in DeKalb County. Popular spot for local residents, families, professionals, retirees, faculty, students and visitors alike. Potential opportunities for continued growth include: Add outdoor seating Expand operating hours Launch a customer loyalty or rewards program Offer private events & banquets Introduce catering services Partner with 3rd-party delivery platforms Build a stronger digital presence Offer branded merchandise

Size In Square Feet

4,884

Competition / Market

A classic American diner. Simply the best. Soooo good. Serving delicious homecooked meals. All dishes made with quality ingredients. Plus, homemade cinnamon rolls, muffins, corn bread, soups and desserts, plus fresh squeezed orange juice. All in a cozy atmosphere with comfortable seating and a fun nostalgic theme. Friendliest place around. Known for their all-day breakfast, homemade comfort food and hometown atmosphere. Also, easy online ordering with quick delivery. Highly rated and recommended, a longstanding reputation built on: All-day breakfast Fresh comfort food In-house baking Hand-cut steaks Family atmosphere Fast, friendly service

Reason for Selling

Personal health issues.

Financials

Asking Price
$179K
RevenueMost Recent Year
Undisclosed
EarningsLast Reported
Undisclosed
Assets Value
Undisclosed
Seller Financing
Not available

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