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Business & Tech

New Sports-Themed Restaurant on Deck for Lemont

Slammers Pub & Grill, set to open in October, plans fun for the whole family.

A new sports-themed restaurant soon will be offering Lemont residents more than just a place to watch the game.

Slammers Pub & Grill, 1243 State St., is on tap to open in October with more than 20 televisions, a full menu, a bar and a game room. Owner Tom Gangas, a veteran of the restaurant business, boasts that the sports theme will permeate every aspect of Slammers. 

"We'll be showing all of the most popular games, from football to golf—even WWF events," Gangas said. "If I don't have it on, nobody does."

The restaurant will be at the site formerly occupied by Aurelio's Pizza in Lemont, Village Square on State Street. It aims to be a sports-lover's oasis, and will be decorated with authentic autographed memorabilia from a broad range of college and professional sports. Gangas also plans to organize special outings from Slammers to Chicago-area professional sporting events, such as Bears and White Sox games. Occasionally, he may even host special celebrity signing events.

Theresa Schulz, principal of Schulz Properties Commercial, encouraged Gangas to locate his new venture in Lemont.

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"(Tom) has a very successful record of running great establishments," Schulz said. "When we had the opportunity to have a new restaurant come in this location, we thought it would be a great fit."

Slammers' sports theme will appeal to a wide range of residents, Schulz said.

"Tom has a solid, core theme that makes it a true sports pub and grill versus just another bar opening in town," she said.

Slammers will be family friendly and will feature a game room with popular sports and pub games for both adults and children. Though the facility has a bar, Gangas says the food service is the focus.

"I've found that one great unity parents have with their kids is sports," Gangas explained. "That's what this restaurant is for—to bring families together around a common interest."

Gangas, who has owned restaurants throughout the south and western suburbs, can be found in the kitchen most of the time. The majority of menu items will be made from scratch, he said, and will include favorites such as burgers, chicken, fish and steak. Slammers will be open for both lunch and dinner seven days a week, and will host a Sunday brunch.

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"Each night we'll have a different theme in addition to our regular menu, such as prime rib night or maple-rubbed barbecue," Gangas noted.

Living in nearby Homer Glen, Gangas saw a need in the community that wasn't being addressed. He decided to put his years of experience to work in Lemont.

"People here are looking for a good, clean, honest and wholesome place to dine with their friends and family," he said. "Many of us have been burned out by the economic situation and are going back to basics."

The somewhat small size of the restaurant, which will seat a little more than 100 diners, allows Gangas to focus on doing those basics well and maintaining a core staff devoted to service. While finishing touches are being put on the facility, expect to see Gangas himself doing much of the work, Schulz said.

"You have to have good management to be successful," she said.  "We have that with Tom."

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