NO VACANCY: FRANCESCA'S ON THE WAY

Foodies, unit! A fifth Italian style eatery is about to open in downtown La Grange.

Turns out the prime "main street" space Via Bella left for much smaller digs at 55th Street and Plainfield Road in Countryside in recent weeks won't stay empty for long.

Just the other day, village officials took their first steps toward granting a liquor license to a full-service Trattoria style restaurant that has already made impressive tracks in places like downtown Elmhurst, Naperville and 14 other locations.

And, unlike its predecessor and its sister in Forest Park, the tasty tenancy at 75 S. La Grange Road will not consider its bar to be as strong of a focus as the restaurant itself.

The new place, which its co-owner, Vice President Michael Noone, says will be called Francesca's La Grange LLC, could be renovated and open for business in two to three months once their occupancy permit is in hand and that could be before year's end.

Based on a unanimous recommendation Oct. 13 from the three-member Liquor Commission -- comprised of Village President Liz Asperger and Trustees Mark Langan and Mark Kuchler -- the Village Board may grant the C-1 liquor license by Monday, Oct. 27.

Interestingly, the upscale eatery that got its start 16 years ago on Chicago's bustling North Clark Street originally had its eyes on another spot closer to the tracks, a space on the east side of La Grange Road owned by prominent downtown property owner Jerry Burjan.

Noone also said while the La Grange Theatre was "a nice amenity" that will be an "asset" to his business, it was not what drew him to the village. Rather, he liked the fair amount of density in La Grange -- and its proximity to Willow Springs.

"I've always liked La Grange," he said, noting the parking deck out back was a big attraction. "It's a nice town. Our market is right here."

Before Francesca's moves in, though, Noone told the commission they have to complete negotiations with their landlord, John Brannen. He said renovating an existing restaurant is the best-case scenario for any restaurateur, as was the case in some of his other ventures.

The restaurant, which he said sells "a lot of food that accents the liquor," plans to operate a separate lunch and dinner shift weekdays -- closing for a couple hours in between -- and featuring meals with liquor until 9:30 or so on weekdays or 10:30 or so on weekends, with late nights extending to no longer than 11:30 weeknights and 12:30 weekends.

So, while families may enjoy the hours, their kids will enjoy the atmosphere, Noone said. There will be lots of high chairs and kids will be able to draw on table covers with crayons, and there's a proven philosophy behind that: if you catch their attention as youngsters they may be lifelong customers.

At the Clark Street spot, he said, there are kids who came in with their parents at age seven who are still coming in with their Wrigleyville neighbors and friends at age 20.

Noone said he and his main partner, President Scott Harris, will be visible in the business community and supportive of local schools and organizations -- focusing on raising money for local groups.

No structural changes are planned to the building, just a change of floor plans.

They could have exercised the option of taking some of the former Hollywood Video/Game Stop space to the north, but did not, considering the more intimate the space, the better. Plus, he said, they didn't want to "lose that sense of energy" the space exudes.

Another restaurant is likely to open in up to three storefronts in the neighboring La Grange Pointe retail/senior housing complex, it was learned, but its name is not yet known.