Brandt's of Palatine is Open for Business

Walt Oswald and Jimmy Iuorio have made a number of changes to the former Brandt's the Little Cafe location, but many things have truly stayed the same.

With a nod to the past and an eye toward the future, the newly branded Brandt's of Palatine, 807 W. Northwest Highway, is now open for business.  When you walk in, the layout, for those who previously patronized Brandt’s the Little Café, is strikingly similar. The lighting is still low with colorful hanging celing lamps, the bar and dinner seating is where it has always been, but the ‘Pub Room’ is definitely a new highlight. Off to the right and down a few stairs, the room is lined with all wood walls and stone floors, and offers four pub tables along with bar stools across a counter against the west wall. Three large screen televisions offer an opportunity for patrons to enjoy sporting events, and a chance to enjoy a more secluded …

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The Back Story to Brandt's of Palatine

Co-owner of Brandt's of Palatine, Jimmy Iuorio did some research and reflects on the colorful history of the building once was located in Inverness and moved to its current location at 807 W. Northwest Highway in the 1930's.

By Jim Iuorio.  Whenever I walk through the rooms of an old house I can't help but wish the walls could talk and tell the stories that have been covered up by the years. Sometimes they do, and over the last several days the Brandt's walls have begun to talk and they've begun to tell an amazing story. Many stories have been told of the farm in Inverness where Capone would store or make illegal alcohol and of the gun battles that took place there. There are also stories of the 130-year-old building that is now Brandt's and how it was operated as a speakeasy and a casino in the past. After buying the Brandt's building, I decided to research and see if the true story could still be pieced together after 100 years had passed. The answer to that…

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Brandt's of Palatine Opening Pushed Back

Owner Jimmy Iuorio said he and his partner Walt Oswald are working to 'get it perfect' and changes to the plans moving forward have cost them time.

Residents will have to wait a little bit longer for Brandt's of Palatine to open its doors.  Owners Walt Oswald and Jimmy Iuorio had planned for an opening as early as March 1, but improvements being made to the building that formerly housed Brandt's The Little Cafe are taking longer than anticipated.  Driving by, you will notice that the signature green ivy has now been removed from the outer building.  "We both want to get it perfect and any change of plans costs us time. We have been getting a ton of constructive feedback from people and it is taking a little more time to consider changes while still maintaining the feel of Brandt's," Iurio said in a Facebook post Sunday. Both men, who are lifelong Palatine residents, are eager to open …

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Brandt’s of Palatine to Open by March

New owners Jimmy Iurio and Walt Oswald plan a number of changes, but a number of things about the Palatine establishment will stay very much the same.

The Palatine Village Council Monday approved a liquor license and the transfer of a special use ordinance for what will soon become Brandt’s of Palatine. Owners and Palatine residents Jimmy Iurio and Walt Oswald plan a March 1 opening (latest by March 15), in what was formerly known as Brandt’s The Little Café, a restaurant with a long and nostalgic history in the village. Previous owner George Grisco had wanted to keep the business afloat, but had gotten serioulsy behind on mortgage payments over the years.  “We’re both longtime residents, we love Brandt’s, we have work to do especially on the outside, but it’s a great restaurant,” said Oswald. “We’ve got some great ideas to fix it up. It needs a lot of work.” Planned improvements include…

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Lifelong Palatine Residents Purchase Brandt’s The Little Café

Walt Oswald and Jimmy Iuorio purchased Brandt’s on Wednesday, and plan to keep the family feel and raved about food that has been a staple in Palatine for close to 50 years.

Great news for Brandt's The Little Cafe fans, new life has been breathed into the business after two lifelong Palatine residents purchased it on Wednesday. Jimmy Iuorio and Walt Oswald bought the business and according to Iuorio, the two plan to make some upgrades, but will keep the same food and general ambiance of the Palatine favorite. “Brandt's has been there since 1964. We feel that there needs to be something in our lives and in our towns that stays constant. So far it's been constant for 50 years and we hope to get another 50,” Iuorio said in a Facebook post on Wednesday. Iuorio said after travelling through Europe, he grew to love the little pubs that felt like the community living room. “That’s the way we hope people feel about it…

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Brandt's Holds Out Hope to Stay Open

Owner George Grisco and daughter Georgina Konuk say they haven't lost faith there will be some way for the family restaurant of more than 65 years to remain in business.

With Christmas just a couple of weeks away, the owner of Brandt's-The Little Cafe, is thankful for the more than 65 years his family business, located at the corner of Northwest Highway and Quentin Road, has remained in Palatine. Brandt's owner George Grisco, and his daughter Georgina Konuk also are holding out hope that something of a Christmas miracle might happen to keep the Palatine business staple, afloat. "I still have people trying to help me, in the way of finding investors or an affordable loan, to keep our business alive," said Grisco.  How the business got into trouble, as reported by Palatine Patch in mid-October, goes back to the late 1990's when property taxes on the two acres the restaurant is located on, began to whirl out …

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Brandt's Battles to Stay in Business

Scheduled to go up for auction Monday, Brandt's gets an extension from the bank but remains in foreclosure. The Palatine restaurant still is more than $700,000 behind in mortgage payments.

Scattered around the bar, patrons sip on beers and talk sports while the owner of Brandt’s Little Café struggles to find a way to stay open. “I love the place, I don’t know what I’d do if I had to get rid of it,” said Brandt’s owner, George Grisco, “It’d probably kill me.” According to court documents, as of May 31, 2011, Grisco is more than $700,000 behind in mortgage payments. “Last I heard it was little over $700,000 but it’s probably over $850,000 now,” Grisco said, “They just keep slapping charges on me.” In foreclosure, the Palatine restaurant was set to go on the auction block Monday, Oct. 15, to be sold to the highest bidder. Although the restaurant’s 65-year history appeared to be coming to a close, Grisco said his lawyer was able…

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CHOWDOWN SHOWDOWN

Chowdown Showdown: Best Burger In Palatine Results

The readers have spoken and have voted for The Lamplighter Inn as the best place to get a burger in Palatine.

The vote is in for this week’s Chowdown Showdown champion. Readers from Palatine Patch have spoken and picked their favorite spot for a burger. With 56 percent of the 286 votes, The Lamplighter Inn, 60 N. Bothwell St., is this week's champion. Congrats to The Lamplighter Inn! Lamplighter finished with 162 votes, edging Brandt's-The Little Cafe, 807 W. Northwest Highway, which finished with 100 votes. Bauer's Brauhaus, 45 W. Slade St., and T.J. O'Brien's, 53 W. Slade St., finished third and fourth respectively. All four establishments were nominated by Patch readers earlier this week.

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CHOWDOWN SHOWDOWN

POLL: Chowdown Showdown Burger Challenge

Take our poll and let us know which of this week's finalists is your favorite restaurant for a burger in Palatine.

UPDATED: Chowdown Showdown Burger Results! For this week's Palatine Patch Chowdown Showdown, we asked readers where their favorite place in Palatine is to get a burger. We got a lot of feedback — thanks to everyone who submitted their feedback by commenting in our articles. But there were four restaurants that the most readers picked as their favorite: Brandt's-The Little Cafe, The Lamplighter Inn, T.J. O'Brien's, Bauer's Brauhaus.  You can cast your vote for your favorite spot by submitting your answer in the poll below.  Voting will continue through 12 p.m. Friday. Check back first thing Saturday morning to find out if your restaurant has been chosen as this week's Chowdown Showdown Champion for having the best burger in Palatine.

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