Breakfast House, a Chicago restaurant chain, will open its first location outside of the city at the corner of Lake and Marion streets in Oak Park.
The plan is to be open for breakfast and lunch by the end of the year in the storefront that was formerly the home of Cozy Corner.
Owner Jaime Jara opened his first Breakfast House in December of 2012. Since then, his breakfast empire has expanded to a total of seven locations across the city of Chicago. The Oak Park restaurant will be his eighth.
“I like Oak Park because it’s nice and quiet neighborhood with families. And for me, my day off is when I’m going to Oak Park to relax,” Jara said.
It was on one of those days off this past summer when Jara noticed the closing sign in the window at Cozy Corner, which had anchored that corner for more than 35 years. According to Jara, it was a perfect location for him to expand.
Jara came to the U.S. from Ecuador in the late ‘90s. He started working in restaurants and after more than a decade learning the trade, he opened his first location at Grand and Western Avenue in West Town.
What distinguishes Breakfast House for Jara is “a passion for the food, passion for service. Making a welcome to the customer. We are like a family in each breakfast place.”
The menu offerings are the same throughout the locations. Every few months, new items roll out.
“Like right now we have our creation that is the egg Benedicts and its’s selling well,” Jara said. “We put it in as a special. If it works, we keep putting on the menu.”
The menu covers all the usual diner basics with attention to detail. The orange and grapefruit juices are freshly squeezed. Best sellers include chilaquiles, chorizo hash, French toast and chicken & waffles.
The plan is to eventually have a liquor license to amp up brunch and cocktail offerings.
Jara said he intends to make decorative updates to the space and is waiting for permits before work gets underway. He added that he hopes to be open in December, so that the new Oak Park location can celebrate 12 years in business with the rest of the Breakfast House locations. Whenever they open, it’s pleasing the customer that is Jara’s main goal.
“I don’t talk much. I just want to improve the food and service in each restaurant,” Jara said. “I think that’s the most important thing, if I do a good service and good food. When customers talk about the restaurant, about the food, I think that’s the most important for me.”
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More Info:
breakfasthousechicago.com
