Georgene Avgeris returns — serving customers at grand re-opening of Uptown Cafe on Monday, May 6, 2013 (More grand re-opening photos …).
Thirty-three days ago Uptown Cafe diners and staff found out the roof over their heads was on fire. Firefighters responded to a report — hard to believe — that smoke was coming down through the ceiling over the rear dining area. Enough smoke was filling the restaurant that diners and staff had to evacuate. Firefighters immediately went to work on the fire on the roof. Most of the work involved cutting away roofing and building materials to make sure the fire was extinguished.
Up on the roof at Uptown Cafe on April 3, 2013: Firefighters extinguish a fire cause by ignition of roofing materials.
John Bolash and Jim Bolash went right to work while firefighters were still on the scene chasing the fire that ignited during some roofing maintenance work over the middle of the restaurant.
While firefighters were doing a reported “awesome job” on cleanup of debris, Father and Son Home Improvement Inc. (John and Jim Bolash) dropped everything and were also on the scene sizing up the situation and working on the process of getting a building permit. A fire restoration business also went to work on cleanup.
Word of the fire spread faster than the fire. Many loyal diners arrived at Uptown Cafe to offer support to owners and staff while firefighters were rolling up hoses.
Alex-approved (See more photos from the grand re-opening of Uptown Cafe on Monday May 6, 2013).
Thirty-three days later there’s new carpeting, new ceiling, new glass block, restored woodworking, a restored mural in the soffit area, and more — a fast turnaround by remodeling standards, but any time over three days was too long for many fans of Uptown Cafe. One fan of Uptown Cafe was so happy Monday, she was inspired to right a poem to Uptown Cafe owners Dino Kavathas and Georgene Avgeris — the father and daughter combo that keeps one of Arlington’s favorite restaurants running.
To all the friendly people at UPTOWN:
When the newsprint comes down
I’ll no longer frown
I’ll don a new gown
To celebrate the
Re-opening of UPTOWN
— Jane
Father and Son Home Improvement Inc. did the original remodeling in 2004 and returned in 2013 to restore the restaurant after the roofing fire.
Dino Kavathas owned Pit and Pub in the 1970’s, which was a favorite of Hersey High School students after school and after football games and basketball games. Every afternoon after school, Hersey basketball star and soon-to-be Chicago Bulls star Dave Corzine would play pinball at Pit and Pub, then located at Rand Road and Dryden Avenue.
On weekends, Harry McCollum, who later opened Harry’s of Arlington at Campbell Street and Vail Avenue, worked as a bartender. He had a special blend known as Harry’s Sangria. He traveled as a salesman during the week, and worked at Pit and Pub on weekends. Pit and Pub closed in 1981. With the restaurant business still in his blood, he opened Uptown Cafe with his daughter Georgene Avgeris when Granny’s closed at the location at the northwest corner of Miner Street and Evergreen Avenue.
Breakfast is ready (More photos from Uptown Cafe grand re-opening May 6, 2013).
Uptown Cafe
24 East Miner Street
Arlington Heights, IL
847-398-1720
See also …
Facebook Uptown Cafe — Arlington Heights
Father and Son Home Improvement — fatherandsonhomeimprovement.com
Facebook Father and Son Home Improvement Co. Inc.
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