Business & Tech
Italian Eatery Moving Into Downtown Plainfield
The former Irish pub has a new tenant, according to the village.
Village officials weren't divulging many details this week, but said a well-known Italian restaurant is slated to move into a former Irish pub at Lockport and DesPlaines streets.
Planner Michael Garrigan said a tenant has a contract to occupy the building that was once home to Mickey O'Neill's — and before that, Finnegan's Irish Pub — at 24102 W. Lockport St.
"We have a new user," Garrigan confirmed Tuesday, adding, "it might be a little premature for me to release the name, but it's a well-known Italian restaurant."
Garrigan said the restaurant isn't part of a large chain, but will be one of several locations in the Chicago area. He added the franchisee is expected to apply for a liquor license soon, although village clerk Michelle Gibas said that hasn't happened yet.
"[The new restaurant] is coming hopefully in the next few months," Garrigan said. "I think they have a pretty quick turnaround time."
The last tenant, Mickey O'Neill's, closed in January after just seven months in business. Before that, the building was home to Finnegan's, which closed in September 2011.
Read: Plainfield Pub Closes: Last Call at Mickey O'Neill's
Former Baci building hasn't sold — yet
The fate of another vacant downtown building remains unknown, however.
Despite changes to the sign in front of the former Baci Ristorante at 24018 W. Lockport St., Garrigan said the former church-turned-restaurant has not sold.
The village purchased the building for $125,000 in 2012 and has completed repairs including a new roof and mold mitigation. Since then, the village has been looking for a buyer for the historic building, which was originally a Unitarian church built in 1868.
“We want to make sure we get the right developer, the right person with the right business background," Garrigan told Patch last fall.
On Monday, he said the village has painted and cleaned the old sign after receiving some complaints about its appearance. But he said that doesn't mean the building is about to change hands — it's still for sale.
"We continue to show the space," Garrigan said. "Numerous developers have walked through," he said.
Read: Village Seeks Buyer for Former Baci Building
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