Nu Crepes Starts Giant-Sized Petition for Signage Changes in Elmhurst

An Elmhurst business owner is collecting signatures on a 12-foot triangular petition in hopes of lifting the city’s limitations on signs near his restaurant.

Niall Martin, owner of Nu Crepes, said in the three years since the restaurant opened, he’s met and spoken with city officials multiple times to try to find temporary and permanent signage solutions, with no lasting success.

Now, he’s using a large arrow, which had previously been a directional wayfind for Nu Crepes before parking deck construction began, as a visual display of community support for his signage requests.

The arrow was nearly filled with more than 150 comments and signatures after only four days on display inside Nu Crepes, and Martin said he has no doubt the arrow’s accompanying tail will fill just as quickly.

Martin said up to nine people call each day to ask how to find their downtown alley location at 115 West Schiller Court, and many wind up at a nail salon at 115 Schiller St.

“Quite frankly, it’s hard because I’m still here many hours a day, I’m still wearing every single hat in the restaurant, and it’s defeating to do public relations and managerial work between lunch rushes,” Martin said. “What’s the point in trying to work with the city if they won’t help support you? I’d assume after three years, our queue would be up.”

Eileen Franz, assistant planning and zoning administrator, said she was not aware of the petition, but the Development, Planning, and Zoning Committee is planning to discuss commercial sign regulations at its Sept. 28 meeting.

“A text amendment to a zoning ordinance requires public hearings and multiple meetings that text amendments have to go through, so it’s not something that does get done quickly,” Franz said.

Martin said the current alley signage doesn’t help people driving by in cars, and tree foliage blocks the signs, which only point west. He said A-frame sandwich board signs, which aren’t technically permitted under city code, get blown over, moved or stolen.

He said people from lower Michigan and Wisconsin come to Elmhurst to seek out Nu Crepes, sometimes driving 30 minutes or more to get there — only to struggle to find the restaurant or to give up and leave. He said they might cross Nu Crepes and the City of Elmhurst off their list.

His ideal signage solution would be something like a permanent gateway indicating passage through the alley that could accommodate the businesses that may move into the alley in the future.

“We’re just asking for some professional consideration,” Martin said. “We’re asking for a fair shot to have a business in this community, doing what we enjoy doing, serving people great food. And we want a fair shake of at least being discovered.”