Woodridge Restaurant Eyes Darien Location

DARIEN, IL – A Woodridge restaurant is interested in having a second location in Darien, but it is struggling to find a place, Darien's mayor says.

In a City Council discussion about zoning earlier this month, Mayor Joseph Marchese said sometimes shopping center covenants, not government regulations, are a barrier to businesses opening.

He used Shanahan's restaurant in Woodridge as an example. It is described as an Irish pub with craft beer and burgers, along with video gambling, live music, karaoke and sports on big screens.

About a year ago, Marchese said he told the owner of Shanahan's that he would like to see the restaurant open in Darien.

Just a few weeks ago, the mayor said, the owner called, expressing interest in opening a second location in Darien and saying he needed about 3,000 square feet.

Marchese said he told the owner that such space was available at Brookhaven Plaza at Cass Avenue and Plainfield Road. The space is where the Avolve fitness center once was.

But Brookhaven's owner indicated Dotty's holds the exclusive right to offer video gambling in the center. That was a non-starter for Shanahan's.

The next option was Darien Towne Center, 2189 75th St., which has 12,000 square feet available, Marchese said.

The owner was willing to subdivide the space, giving Shanahan's 3,000 square feet. But the city and Shanahan's would have to come up with a business for the remaining square footage, Marchese said.

Finally, Shanahan's considered Chestnut Court shopping center, 7511 Lemont Road, Marchese said.

"Their broker said, 'We don't allow gaming or alcohol in our shopping center,'" the mayor said. "It's probably why they have the vacancies they have. There were three centers that could not take a business that wants to come to Darien because of the covenants or because of contracts they already have."

Shanahan's did not return a message for comment.