University-owned restaurant and bar, Gilhooley’s Grande Saloon ceased operations on August 12, 2019.
The news of the restaurant’s closure came as a shock when the Gilhooley’s Grande Saloon Facebook page shared a post detailing their most recent transition:
“Beginning August 12, 2019, Gilhooley’s Grande Saloon will transition into an exclusive venue to host private parties, weddings, and special events. Gilhooley’s features a truly unique setting with a fully staffed and stocked bar and excellent party menu. Gilhooley’s is currently available for your next party reservation as it transitions into a dedicated special event facility.”
“We’re focusing on Gilhooley’s as a venue for private events, banquets, …birthdays, communions, graduations. We’ve done rehearsal dinners, showers, funeral luncheons, you name it.”
That’s according to Gilhooley’s General Manager and Executive Chef, Jim Terri.
Terri continued with, “Gilhooley’s is still going to be open to the public, to the community, but not as a restaurant and bar.”
When asked about the decision to focus on private events, Terri said:
“It wasn’t Country House’s decision. It was more Richard Driehaus. It was more his decision, and I think it was a business decision. It wasn’t wanting to do something different with the place. I think it was just more along the lines of a business decision.”
Even though Gilhooley’s will no longer operate as a restaurant, Terri says the goal is to keep Gilhooley’s relevant in the community. Terri also addressed the suddenness of this news, as well as how the community has reacted to it.
“The decision was made rather quickly, so there wasn’t a lot of time to get the word out really. We do have good customers that come in often. They were very surprised, upset, but…most of them are understanding. The reaction wasn’t necessarily a negative reaction. People were more surprised, and a little bit saddened by it.”
While SXU students and members of the community will no longer get to sit down and have a burger at the restaurant, Gilhooley’s will continue to cater, as well as be an integral part of other schools in the neighborhood.
“[Gilhooley’s] also [does] a lot of catering, and… a hot lunch program for local Catholic grade schools. That’s a big part of our business too. So, we do that five days a week during the school year,” Terri says.
Several of the menu items from Gilhooley’s are now available in the diner for students, faculty, and staff. Restaurant employees have already been offered jobs in different locations as well as here at Saint Xavier.
“Country House has a lot of locations in different schools. Not just Saint Xavier, but Moraine Valley and dozens of other high school and grade schools. So, all of my employees have been offered jobs at other locations. Mostly though, here at Saint Xavier,” Terri states.
Despite all of this, Terri feels confident in the future.
“I feel very confident with the direction that Gilhooley’s is going to go… I see this being a thriving and growing business.”