Gusteau's Gluten-Free Shoppe Brings Wheat-less Eats to Lemont

A new Lemont store is hoping to capitalize on the increasing demand for gluten-free products in the southwest suburbs.

Gusteau's Gluten-Free Shoppe will open its doors Saturday at 1246 State St., in Centennial Plaza. In addition to carrying a wide variety of wheatless products, the store will offer homemade desserts, catering and carryout meals.

Patch recently caught up with Gusteau's co-owner Patricia Paloumpis, a Tinley Park resident, to chat about the store's offerings and the need for quality, gluten-free options in Lemont.

PATCH: What inspired you to open Gusteau's?

PALOUMPIS: We really saw a need for fast, convenient carryout food that's gluten-free. There are so many people that have gluten-free diets, and there just aren't many places that serve that need. Our store, first and foremost, is dedicated to producing quality, gluten-free meals for our customers.

PATCH: Why did you choose to start your business in Lemont?

PALOUMPIS: My partner (chiropractor Jeff Forzley) is based in Lemont, so he told us about the space. It felt like a really good opportunity.

PATCH: Tell us a little about what people can expect at Gusteau's.

PALOUMPIS: Our main focus is going to be carryout meals for lunch and dinner, so we'll have a little bit of everything—salads, made-to-order sandwiches, etc. We want people with gluten-free diets to have somewhere to go for quick and delicious meals. We'll also have a retail section with a bunch of our favorite gluten-free products, so people can come in and shop. We'll also do catering, so we'll actually have a chef that can prepare gluten-free desserts and meals for birthday parties and other events. Eventually we'd like to hold educational classes where we can teach people more about nutrition and gluten-free cooking.

PATCH: What made you want to open a gluten-free shop?

PALOUMPIS: I've been gluten-free for about four years, so I know first-hand how limited the choices can be. Pretty much everyone who works at Gusteau's is gluten-free, so we really consider ourselves experts. We know about the best products and recipes because we all have personal experience being gluten-free. 

PATCH: How has the demand for gluten-free products changed over the past few years?

PALOUMPIS: I don't think a lot of people talked about gluten until recently, and I think that has a lot to do with the fact that more doctors are looking at nutrition and what we're putting into our bodies. I think there has also been a big wave of people who are gluten-sensitive because of the way it's produced. The way the seeds are grown has changed drastically over the years, so a lot of people now have a gluten intolerance.

Gusteau's Gluten-Free Shoppe will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. A grand opening celebration will be held Saturday, June 8, at 10 a.m.

For more information, visit gusteausglutenfreeshoppe.com.

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