Finding Love Downtown At Firkin Restaurant

For this month's Love In A Small Town feature, we asked Patch readers to tell us the story behind a specific spot in town where they fell in love. For Eric and Dawn Schulenburg, this spot is Firkin restaurant in Libertyville, Illinois. Here's their story:

“Chance had me meet this wonderful man at a bar Lincolnshire. Both of us were newly divorced. I, in my mid 30s and he, in his early 40s, had no idea this particular evening would be the beginning of our new lives together! We almost didn’t exchange phone numbers, and wouldn’t have if our friends hadn’t suggested it. Luckily we did and agreed to meet up alone at Firkin in downtown Libertyville, a halfway point for both of us, as he lived in Highland Park and I was in Grayslake.

We set the date during the week, and I got a sitter for my two kids. (His three kids were all teenagers at the time and lived with their mother during the week.) We met up at Firkin. I hardly ate -- I was so excited not to have to cut someone’s food up before they ate it!

The date flew by and before we knew it he was walking me to my car, which was parked in front of the restaurant on Milwaukee Avenue. He kissed me goodnight under the tree in front, right by my car. I always reminisce when we walk or drive by that tree today.

This was the first of many dates at Firkin to come. After three months of seeing each other regularly, he mentioned getting married. I was like, ‘No way!’ I just got divorced two years prior and him five years prior. He said, ‘I really want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don’t see my life with anyone else.’

Inside I was feeling the same way too, so I said, ‘Let’s wait four seasons.’ Growing up in the Midwest, many of you know how our moods change with the seasons. I said, ‘I will marry you if you agree to see me out though spring, summer, fall and winter.’ I really wanted him to see how weather affects me. He finally agreed.

Almost a year later, he picked me up from work for lunch and took me to our little Firkin. When we received our drinks, I noticed he was a little fidgety. He reached in his pocket and opened the box to the most beautiful ring I’d ever laid my eyes on. I was so happy!

We got married almost a year to the date we met. He did wait out his four seasons and we combined our beautiful families. We got married in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, built our dream home in Libertyville (home of Firkin) and had our own little girl two years later. Since we now have three boys and three girls like the Brady Bunch, friends and family call us ‘The Schulenburg Bunch.’

We’ve been married 14 years on Valentine’s Day. For our 15th anniversary, I plan on renting out Firkin for a dinner party and having a renewal of vows, with all of our kids in the wedding.

For birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas, our kids and siblings always buy us gift cards for Firkin, so we can celebrate there together, the place that provided our first date, first kiss and our proposal! Every time we bring the kids there, we replay everything for them, though I think they’re sick of hearing our little story.”

— Dawn Schulenburg

See all Patch reader love stories here.

For next month's Love In A Small Town feature, we want to know: Have you ever had a chance encounter with someone that led to love? Email your story to locallove@patch.com for the chance to be featured. Get more details here.