'Mom' Will be Calling Us to Come in for Dinner Soon

You can't miss them. The workers building out the old Kopper Kitchen site at Route 83 and St. Charles Road are working at one of the busiest intersections in DuPage County.

So, what are they up to, when can we eat there and what's on the menu?

The new logo for Kitchen Eatery offers a clue. One glimpse and you're transported back to mom's meatloaf, baked mac and cheese, and chicken and gravy, all served up on her 1950s, retro-fab formica dinette set.

The menu at Kitchen Eatery will be full of all those great comfort foods of days gone by—but the decor won't exactly be that of a '50s diner, said CSP Investment President Chris Conglis, who is leading the build-out and will run the restaurant. The project has taken a little longer than planned, but it will be worth the wait, he said.

"We decided the best thing to do was start with a clean slate," he said by email. "The entire space is new, including the kitchen."

The dust is flying both inside and out. New floors were poured last week, he said.

"We have opened the space, taken down some walls and raised the ceiling areas to create several open dining spaces," Conglis said.

He said the restaurant won't look anything like Kopper Kitchen did.

"(It) will feature a contemporary look with touches of mid-century retro design elements to add a creative flair, looking nothing like a diner or the previous space."

He said bright colors will mix with stone, glass, tile and modern wood accents "to bring a warmth to the dining experience."

The outside has been redone, as well, and the plan is to add some green space in front.

Kitchen Eatery will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner made from scratch, as well as beer and wine.

"The hours are not yet finalized, however we are considering late-night hours on weekends," Conglis said.

He and his crew have received a lot of support from the city of Elmhurst, he said, and his partners are just as committed as he is.

"I am fortunate to have two excellent partners and friends involved in the restaurant, and their dedication and experience has been a tremendous asset in getting the restaurant up and running," he said.

Expect a late January or early February opening, he said.

"Everybody working on this project is very focused on finishing on time," he said. "We appreciate all the support we have received."

Kopper Kitchen served patrons on that site for more than 40 years. It went out of business in 2011.