Darien Restaurant May Open In September: Owner

DARIEN, IL – The owner of the Fry the Coop restaurant chain said Monday he aimed to open the Darien location by September, three months later than originally hoped.

"We're pushing really, really hard to possibly be open by Sept. 1 or mid-September," owner Mike Fontana told the City Council. "It's really hard to say because there are a lot of variables that go into when all the construction work is done and we have our team ready and trained."

Fry the Coop is planned for the old Steak 'n Shake building at 2019 W. 75th St.

The chain has six locations – Elmhurst, Prospect Heights, Tinley Park, Oak Lawn and two in Chicago.

Fontana said his business is converting the Steak 'n Shake to a Fry the Coop Nashville Hot Chicken.

"We really try to go above and beyond to provide a place that people can go and gather and share happiness and laughs with each other," he said. "In a world of technology and social media and a lot less social interaction, we really need places where people can go to build and strengthen relationships, break bread with your family and friends. We really like to be a part of it. We are in the happiness business."

The chain started in 2017.

Steak 'n Shake closed in the summer of 2020.

Last year, Alderman Eric Gustafson proposed that the Steak 'n Shake building be zoned to allow a marijuana shop. A city committee later rejected that idea.