Nickey V's Pizzeria, Lemont Lanes Close
Owner Nick George said past debt forced the closing of the bowling alley and pizza restaurant Saturday.
Nickey V's, 1015 State St., which also houses Lemont Lanes, closed its doors Saturday after only six months in operation.
Owner Nick George said he and his wife, Darci, were forced to shut down the restaurant and bowling alley due to issues with past debt.
"We're very disappointed," Nick George said. "We did everything we could. I thought we were about to turn a corner, but we just weren't able to overcome the past financial difficulties."
George took over the restaurant, formerly known as Vito and Nick's Pizzeria, from family members last fall. His family owns and operates the original Vito and Nick's location on Pulaski Road in Chicago.
The Lemont location opened in 2003, but was temporarily closed in August over apparent issues with debt.
George and his wife took over the business shortly after, and worked with the village to get the liquor license reinstated. They changed the name, tweaked the menu and made improvements to the bowling alley with hopes of giving the restaurant a fresh start.
"We had high hopes for the business, so we're very sad about all of this," he said.
George said he is looking at different locations in the Lemont area to re-open the restaurant, but isn't sure if it will actually happen.
"I really like Lemont and all of the people here, so we'd like to find a way to stay," he said. "I just don't know when or if we'll be able to do it."
Robyn Horn
10:15 am on Sunday, March 4, 2012
That's too bad. What about all the money everyone spent on Groupons there? Wonder if other Lemont Pizza places will honor them like Jeffrey LaMorte did for Moda Clients?
Paul Scheufler
10:31 am on Sunday, March 4, 2012
That is too bad. Running a restaurant is tough. There is competition to deal with, the current economy allows for fewer discretionary dollars in peoples hands, the food and service needs to be top notch and the price has to be right. Even when you nail all of these things you still have to deal with all of the taxes and other expenses that erode income. God bless the local shop keeper because he will need it.
Paul Scheufler
10:32 am on Sunday, March 4, 2012
Good luck to Mr and Mrs George in the future. We hope you stay in Lemont.
David F. Herman
11:29 am on Sunday, March 4, 2012
That's a real shame. We played a lot of games there when we were kids growing up in Lemont and Lockport. David F. Herman, Tucson, Arizona.
Mike Pouliot
1:25 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2012
Groupon and Patch Deals can usually be refunded. I did get a refund for Slammers, another Lemont fatality. I won't be buying anymore Lemont deals unless it is LaDolce Vita, 3 corners, Sweetwater deli or The Vault. Too risky. I now have to try to get my $20 back from the ones I bought for Nicky V's.
Nickey V
6:22 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Mike if you need a refund on your groupon please let me know and we will be happy to assist you ... Or hold onto it... We may be down and out... But it defiantly is not over
Bob
7:09 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2012
Too bad his name wasn't Nick Georgeski, he would be golden.
John
8:18 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2012
That is not good for Lemont. We finally had a decent place where you could watch a game, have a tasty pizza, and a beer or two with your friends and you didn't need a second mortgage to do it. I hope Nicky opens elsewhere in town as I am confident that his team could keep a smaller venue full with the register ringing.
Tammy
12:17 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
The decrease in tax revenue by all the recent closings in our village will cause great harm. I would like to see the Village put a little more effort into helping the local business owners. BP, Wendy's, Ace have been vacant for years. Sears is gone, Slammers, Moda, Lemont Lanes; who's next?
Bill
11:10 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
Absolutely a shame. We were regular customers of the restaurant and carry out having been raised on it from the restaurant on Pulaski. Please find a way to open up the restaurant again. The best thin crust pizza anywhere!!!
John
11:56 am on Monday, March 5, 2012
What is a shame is they took money for a fundraiser that was supposed to be there on Saturday. No warning or anything. I do not feel sorry for them at all.
Tim Wall
2:02 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
John - its my understanding that Nick worked with the people that had the event booked & found them another location.
John
2:13 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
That is not true. I was supposed to go to the event since it was for my nephew's school and there was not another location set up.
Tim Wall
2:15 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
Ok - I guess I was misinformed
Darci McHale-George
11:28 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
Tim, you were not misinformed,
John, the event organizers we had contact information for, Don and Kathy, were both called early Saturday morning from my kitchen by my husband Nick. The building has no power and we had no control over or voice in the mortgagee-in-possesion's decision to change the locks Saturday morning, nor were we properly notified. We had one generator delivered Friday night, got additional wiring Saturday morning and planned for a second generator to be delivered to make sure there was an event run. When Nick arrived at the building Saturday morning the locks were changed and we still haven't been able to gain access. We were fortunate our banquet manager had their numbers at home. Nick came home, we called around until we found two other locations with available and immediately contact both Don and Kathy. That didn't mean the event was movable in such a short period of time but we tried to move heaven and earth to make it happen.
MK
9:40 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
I was scheduled to have a bowling fund-raiser at Lemont Lanes the third week of April. When I drove past the bowling on Friday, 3/9, and saw an empty parking lot and a dark building, I called Nick to find out what was going on. He told me what was going on and also told me that you were working with other bowling alleys to help out people who were scheduled to have functions at Lemont Lanes. I was told by Nick that he would call me back on Saturday morning. This was three weeks ago and I have yet to receive a call back. So, while I am sorry for the position you are in, I am sorry for the position I was placed in with having 200 people expecting to attend an event at Lemont Lanes and having to work, very quickly on my own, to find a replacement location (which I have done). I understand you did not have your books in order to call people who had future events booked at the Lemont Lanes, however, there is no excuse for not calling me back after offering to help find a new location. We have had our last two bowling events at Lemont Lanes and have had a wonderful time, therefore, I hope things work out for you. But, I am more than disappointed at the lack of professionalism with my situation. And, I would like to receive my deposit back as well.
James Smith
12:42 am on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Lemont is really going down the tubes business wise...It's a shame we don't have something like the Promenade... What do we have here besides Target/Kohls ? McDonalds is the #1 restaurant. I think we lose a lot of tax base to Bolingbrook,Woodridge,Orland Park- to name a few. Some day Lemont will wake up and learn we need to move forward and not backwards!
And there is really nothing for the teens to do here....How about a teen center or something.
Benton Bullwinkel
1:21 pm on Saturday, March 24, 2012
They did improve the food and we always had a blast there. This really is a shame. Perhaps it might become a Park District facility !! Wishful thinking....
Lauren field
10:38 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
We are interested in purchasing this building. If we could get information on this I would appreciate it.
please advise.
Paul Scheufler
10:45 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Thanks Lauren. Feel free to contact me directly about this: Paul@ExpertRealtyServices.com.
Mary Cook
2:41 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
Hello Lauren. I will be listing the building and property this week. Please feel free to contact me at mary.cook@cbexchange.com
Thanks
Mike L
8:57 am on Monday, November 12, 2012
Does anyone know where Tim and the other bartenders are now working?
Nickey V
2:29 am on Saturday, January 5, 2013
The other bartenders are scattered about ... Tim I hear is in Orland ... Maybe Morgan's
Nickey V
2:31 am on Saturday, January 5, 2013
And we are back in the saddle again... Now in Romeoville ... Check us out at Leo's bar 201 e Romeo road.. Dine in, carryout and delivery
Paul Scheufler
4:10 pm on Saturday, January 5, 2013
Nick and Darci - Good luck to you in 2013.