Elgin Public House owner Greg Shannon is retiring and has put the downtown restaurant/pub up for sale.
“It’s been a hard decision because having my own place is all I’ve ever wanted since I was 13,” the 65-year-old said.
But retiring has been in the back of his mind for a while, Shannon said, because he wants time to relax and spend with his 13 grandchildren.
“We’re looking for a buyer who believes in community,” he said. “We’re trying to keep it the same. I’d like to see the new people come in and keep it going.”
Shannon initially planned to open a restaurant in St. Charles in 2006 but when the deal fell through, his broker suggested taking a look at Elgin. He came for a visit and fell in love with the people and the city, he said.
“I thought this town really needs a pub,” Shannon said.
The Public House opened at 219 E. Chicago St. the following year.
There were challenges early on, like road construction on East Chicago Street in 2008. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic its took a toll.
“We adapted very well after COVID. We are still going strong,” Shannon said.
Restaurants have ups and down, and it’s hard to be in the business right now thanks to higher costs, Shannon said.
“I absolutely love this business,” he said. “But the cost of doing business is extremely high right now. It can still be done and done very well. I’m just too old. I can’t work that many hours anymore.
“My heart is still young, but my body is saying, ‘What are you doing?’” he said.
Overall, he’s had a good run, Shannon said.
“It’s been absolutely wonderful,” he said of being a downtown business owner. “Elgin is such a wonderful community. People have been fantastic. Our customers are phenomenal. We have such a huge base of great people.”
And Shannon’s has been a big part of the downtown community, Downtown Neighborhood Association Executive Director Jennifer Fukala said.
“I think he should be proud he built a successful business that’s become a pillar in our community,” she said.
Shannon, a self-taught chef, honed his skills in the Public House’s kitchen. One of the restaurant’s most popular dishes is his sloppy Joes, with a recipe that includes chili sauce, horseradish, barbecue sauce and garlic and can be ordered with cheese and bacon. It was named one of a top Chicago’s Best “comfort food” by WGN-TV.
They’re also known for their wine-pairing dinners, employing a special skill Shannon developed over his career during weekly and holiday brunches, he said.
Shannon won’t be doing an Easter brunch this year because he wants his employees to enjoy the day with their families, but they’ll keep regular hours until the business sold. It’s hard to know if it will be in two months or in six, he said, but “once we have a buyer, we’ll let everyone know,” he said.
After that, he and his wife, Lou, who retired a few years ago, plan to do more traveling to see the grandkids but he doesn’t plan on leaving the community, he said. He’ll probably stay involved in some downtown events, and he wants to continue doing culinary demonstrations as part of the the Downtown Elgin Farmers Market.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
