The Valparaiso City Council unanimously passed a resolution at the Sept. 9 council meeting paving the way for the first steps to issue a downtown alcohol permit to allow Theo’s Restaurants and Dining of Lake County to expand east with a Valparaiso dining establishment.
Bruce Boyer of Boyer Properties of Highland presented details of the planned $2 million 8,000 square-foot restaurant complex which will span the historic former Valparaiso City Hall at the addresses spanning 16-18 Indiana Ave. in downtown Valparaiso along the courthouse square.
Boyer explained he is the real estate investor partnered in a business venture with Peter Klideris, owner of Theo’s Dining Group, which has steakhouses and restaurants in Crown Point, Highland and St. John. Boyer said he is still working out the final details of the space lease agreement but urged the council to move ahead and approve the first hurdle of garnering an alcohol permit to ensure a smooth path to the restaurant opening in April 2026 and construction starting March 2025.
The planned restaurant which will be managed and operated by Klideris will be branded AVGO, like an earlier location that Klideris owns in St. John and specializes only in breakfast and lunch service. The St. John location opened in 2018, and according to Klideris, who attended the Sept. 9 council meeting to field questions, alcohol accounts for as much as 12% of sales.
“This building portion that housed the original city hall was built in 1875 and the adjoining building which was the original firehouse was constructed in 1878,” Boyer said.
“We are basically keeping all of the four exterior walls of the historic structure, but then demolishing all of the interior and the roof and adding a new steel beam support structure inside for concrete floors, new stairs and an elevator.”
Boyer said he also is working with the First Source Bank, the neighboring existing business structure, to gain access to the back area of the buildings for parking needs and assisting them in reconfiguring their rear lobby and adding a handicap ramp.
Klinderis told Mayor Jon Costas and the council that his family has been “looking to get into the Valparaiso market for a long time.”
Council member Jack Pupillo, R-4th, said the council should be eager to welcome the business venture as an investment in the community.
Council President Robert Cotton, D-2nd, and Council member Barbara Domer, D-3rd, remained wary of proceeding with support for a liquor license before the applicant had signed a lease and legal agreements.
Klinderis assured the agreements would be completed this month and he promised his restaurant organization would support Valparaiso with the same donations, charity initiatives and incentives he has extended to the Lake County communities where his restaurants are already dining destinations.
Boyer further emphasized his property management company already has a presence in Valparaiso and has only enjoyed robust success working with the city leaders.
“I already own and operate the center complex where Tomato Bar is located and also where the Starbucks is an anchor,” Boyer said.
“And we are now in contract agreements to purchase the block at Roosevelt and Lincolnway from Valparaiso University and I’m planning a large shopping center at that location. I have a commitment to Valparaiso which has been around for a long, long time.”
After the resolution passed the council with a unanimous vote, Valparaiso City Attorney Patrick Lyp reminded the council’s action was only the first step in the process for the downtown alcohol serving permit to be granted.
“The ATC (Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission) downstate will want this approved resolution and the written consent letter from the mayor before they continue to the next step to review the matter,” Lyp said.
“There are multiple steps in this process still before anything is granted.”
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
