Cokinis, Heroes West Bring Custom Service, Scratch-Made Food To Lemont

LEMONT, IL — Joe Cokinis figures that by now, his staff have have grown tired of his constant preaching about the mission of his business. But for a long-time restaurateur who is committed to doing things right and giving his customers the best service possible while customizing each experience to meet individual needs, messaging remains a top priority.

Cokinis has always dreamed of expanding his Heroes West brand out of Joliet. But for one reason or another, the timing was never right. But when an ideal space in an ideal location came open in Lemont recently, Cokinis realized that the opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

Heroes West Lemont expanded to being open seven a days a week earlier this month after nearly four months of hosting private events and running its new location at 1015 State St., formerly the site of the Quarry, through its paces. After offering a massive “circus” at the Joliet location that has hosted private events, parties, weddings and community fundraisers for more than a decade, Heroes West Lemont is providing the same services — only in a much bigger location.

Located in the space formerly held by The Quarry Bar and Grille, the new Heroes West location features 26,000 square feet of space, eight bowling lanes, six pool tables, a dance floor and stage as well as a restaurant with seating for 240 people and even more dining space outdoors.

For Cokinis, the new space offers a new opportunity to reach a new clientele. But after spending the past 46 years between working in the wholesale meat business and as a chef running restaurants, Cokinis is relying on a philosophy that has served him well over the years.

“We’ve definitely worked at wiring ourselves into the community to become an asset to the community to be a foundational piece or a pillar to that community in any way we can contribute,” Cokinis told Patch.

Cokinis has always prided himself on making sure he’s meeting customers where they are and offering top-notch, scratch-made food and service at an affordable price. But every wedding experience is tailor-designed for each individual occasion, ensuring that the experience is organic and not meets the expectations of the client, but goes beyond.

It’s a lofty goal, Cokinis said, but if the venue can exceed what the client was hoping for, then Heroes West has done its job and will continue to be a setting for special occasions in the future.

For Cokinis, that’s where the most satisfaction comes in. What begins with a wedding turns into a special setting for a baby shower, then an eighth-grade graduation, a high school commencement ceremony, a 21st birthday party and more milestones down the road, he said.

“That’s my reward,” Cokinis told Patch this month. “It’s just seeing that we’re able to reach out and help some people and be a small part of some special times. It really is payoff.”

Like with other small businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on Heroes West. Now, more than two years after the pandemic began, opening a new location looks much different than it would have in 2019.

At the time, finding plenty of applicants for staff positions would have been easy, Cokinis said. But at a time when finding enough people to fill available jobs is no longer a guarantee, Cokinis said he finds himself shifting employees between the Joliet and Lemont locations as he gets his new establishment off the ground.

And yet, with already some established connections to Lemont in place, Cokinis is hoping for a smooth transition into offering Lemont something he hopes will be a go-to-destination for years to come. As he did in Joliet, Cokinis will build his business around scratch-made food from local growers and producers and will make sure that customers know that the success of the business is about making them happy.

For Cokinis, part of that formula comes from talking to local residents and asking their input on what they want to see. That may be anything from craft beer selections offered at Heroes West to bits of local knowledge that is going to give the establishment a true community feel.

Like in Joliet, Cokinis with the community in hosting fundraisers for local veterans, police officers, firemen, nurses, first responders, senior citizens — all in the name of becoming a staple in the community. Anyone familiar with the menu in Joliet will recognize a lot of familiar

And as much as Cokinis considers himself a talker, he knows that being good at what he does in business comes from listening. That’s why he constantly seeking feedback about the service his customers get at Heroes West whether it be good, bad or indifferent.

“It’s all about gaining more knowledge,” Cokinis said. “Everyone I talk with, I learn something new every day – no matter who it is.”

He added: “I think we’re unique because of our willingness to meet guests at where they are. If I can do it, so can anyone else around me, but we choose to do it. And we want to make sure we give guests a little extra time, a little special attention.”