Plans by Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs restaurant to relocate to a storefront near Oak Park Village Hall on Madison Street have fallen apart, and now owner Charlie Robinson is focusing on a vacant property on Madison most recently occupied by Leona’s.
Robinson said in a telephone interview that the plan to pick up and move to the storefront at 110-112 Madison St., near village hall, ultimately did not work out and he is close to completing a lease-to-own agreement on the former Leona’s property, 848 Madison St.
The Village of Oak Park purchased the rib joint’s current location, 934-936 Madison St., earlier this year for $495,000, and plans to include the property in a redevelopment of the School District 97 building at 970 Madison St.
Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb said the village and the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation have been working to help relocate Robinson’s Ribs somewhere in the village. He noted in a telephone interview that the business could be eligible for financial support from the Madison Street Tax Increment Finance District.
Robinson’s was given a deadline to vacate the current property by the end of November, but Abu-Taleb said that deadline is “flexible.”
“I’ve told Charlie that we would work with them as the deadline approaches,” Abu-Taleb said. “He was very professional to work with, and once he made an agreement, he fulfilled his part without any hesitation, and that means a lot to us.”
He said he believes that the new location will help Robinson’s restaurant because it is closer to the original location.
“I think that will make it easier for him to maintain his brand,” he said.
Robinson told Wednesday Journal that the deal with Leona’s makes better sense because the location is already set up as a restaurant, unlike the three storefronts at the 110-112 Madison location. Those storefronts would have required a gut-rehab and complete buildout.
Robinson said he aims to have the new location open before the end of the year.
The original plan was to purchase that location, but under the Leona’s deal, Robinson will rent with an option to purchase the property. Robinson said he expects to eventually purchase the property.
John Pullano, owner of the 110-112 Madison St. location, said his property is still up for sale.
The deal with Robinson’s came so close to completion, Pullano said, that he was on the verge of relocating the three existing businesses in that location to a different building on Madison.
The three businesses — Fima African Hair Braiding, Jean Ford Realty and Elegant Fashion — were prepared to make the move about three weeks ago, when Robinson’s lawyer contacted him and pulled out of the deal.
“I was really disappointed in the amount of work we did to make this deal work,” he said, adding, “I wish [Robinson] luck.”
CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com
