Omega Restaurant Set to Open March 4
The popular Downers Grove eatery has been closed since mid-July after it lost water and electricity service, but is preparing to open its doors March 4.
Omega Restaurant is making its return to Downers Grove.
The popular eatery, located at 1300 Ogden Ave., is set to re-open March 4, nearly eight months after unpaid bills, code violations and legal troubles forced the restaurant to close its doors.
The newly-installed marquee outside Omega has promised its return for months, but was recently changed to inform patrons of the March 4 opening. Co-owner Nick Christopoulos confirmed the date.
The restaurant will be open from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. on weekends—a change from its previous 24-hour service.
George Andrews, the majority owner of the Omega building, took over the restaurant in July from former owners George and James Stavropoulos, who filed for bankruptcy in May, according to court documents.
Andrews and the Stavropouloses became partners in 2007, but the relationship quickly deteriorated over legal and financial issues. In 2009, Andrews filed an injunction to have the father-son team banned from the restaurant, but the dispute was ultimately settled and a new lease signed.
Over the next few years, Omega racked up a number of unpaid bills for tens of thousands of dollars to various vendors, according to a Chicago Tribune report.
In May 2012, Andrews went to court claiming that Jim Stavropoulos—who took control of the entire business when his father retired—hadn't paid rent since February.
The Stavropouloses agreed to vacate the restaurant in July and pay Andrews $81,000, according to court documents. Several court cases involving unpaid bills are still pending, according to DuPage County records.
Christopoulos, who now co-owns Omega with Andrews and Andrews' son Telly Andrianopoulos, said he hopes the restaurant can leave the controversy in the past.
"We want to put it behind us and concentrate on the re-opening," Christopoulos told Patch in January.
Are you looking forward to the return of Omega? Tell us in the comments!
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Nicholas
4:05 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Why does everyone's name end with poulos? This is just confusing.... who is related to who?
Ricky W Kracker a.k.a. Diggy Swagga
1:24 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
The above is an insensitive comment. This is the type of attitude that fosters anti-Greek stereotypes. Parents of the "the Greek Generation" were probably more concerned about Big Babies and Gyros. Please refresh your knowledge of Chicago Greek Dining Culture...
DHD
12:50 am on Saturday, February 23, 2013
A Greek tragedy. Seriously who actually likes this place?
Kent Frederick
8:12 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
I liked the Omega. It wasn't the greatest food, but you could always find something on the menu, as well as in the bakery case.
Ann
10:55 am on Sunday, February 24, 2013
Hands down the best omelet I've ever eaten anywhere.
joseph a pritasil jr
10:55 am on Sunday, February 24, 2013
My wife and I loved Omega and we're happy to hear it's returning.
Kim Kasallis
8:12 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
Why would anyone patronize this place that screwed their employees and suppliers? They are all greek because it's not "new" ownership, it's just another family member taking their turn for the cash. This is mediocre food, highly overpriced. There are so many other GOOD alternatives for breakfast. Drive an extra mile or two and patronize a business that APPRECIATES your business!
heidi swatscheno
6:47 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
When George Andrews was running this before there were no issues, With whatever happened in the court system and Papa and Jimmy took it back is when the issues happened. You can not blame this on the Andrews family - Although i agree there are some servers that should be brought back - there is also the issue that they do not want the feelings everyone is posting on here. Omega is a great place for food - the Niles one that they run has done very well. I think you will see the Omega all of us grew up loving back - as long as Papa and Jimmy are nowhere allowed in there.
MJ
8:12 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
I hope the new management keeps the place cleaner than the old, we had some serious health issue's with one of our family members so we wiped tables down with clorox wipes before we ate, their tables were filthy!
JAY JAY
8:12 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
J A P jr
We agree with you.............
a concerned citizen
1:24 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
The "old ownership" did not leave money in their accounts before they left. As a result the employees checks bounced and remember these folks don't get paid very much. They barely survive on a check to check basis. The "new ownership" should make an effort to help these employees. When we hear they helped them we'll return for our breakfasts. Until then there are reasonable and convenient alternatives.
heidi swatscheno
6:47 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
I think the Andrews family has enough to worry about with paying off the debts that were made by the old ownership. As a server - you work for tips - THAT is your pay - most of us do not even count on the check because after taxes it is so small. And remember, these servers were aware of what was going on with the checks bouncing - so they chose to stay because of the customer base they had formed. - But it is tips we live for - not the check
apps
11:41 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
I worked there til the end for almost 4 years..i reapplied a month ago...nevr got call for my job back... u think that the new owners would at least take back the staff that put up with all the BS and toughed it out...NOPE...its not rite & not fair...but those r GREEKS for ya...all they care about is money.. i worked for Telly in the past..just an older version of Jim Stravopolis
apps
11:41 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
But of course....they hired the greek waitresses back....
Brother ED
6:47 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Great to hear it will reopen. When I was at Benet Academy 74-92 it was very popular. Brother Ed
Samantha Meyer
6:47 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
I am one of the servers that lost their job when this resturant closed. I also didnt get paid and worked about 75 hours a week there. I am very upset that those of us servers that stuck it out there were not all called back to work for the new owners as we did nothing to cause us to lose our jobs. So really we got punished for the original owners mistakes by not only losing our jobs but also not getting called back to work there.
Mike
11:38 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Heidi- if I recall correctly, your were fired from Omega a few years ago for not even showing up on time. Not only that, but your husband who used to work for United Limousine was also fired for trailing the fare money and going to the Hollywood Casino and gambled it all away! Do NOT throw stones if you live in a glass house yourself.
Eileen
6:00 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
Mike- Or whoever you are- Get your facts right before you post a comment.......Do you really think this is the place to talk about other people's families???? Maybe you should look at your own before you talk about others......
Mike
11:38 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
And Heidi- the Andrews family own the Schaumburg store, not the Niles location. So you don't even know what you're talking about. LOL
Mike
11:38 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
And also let's not forget that the stravopolos family are the original creators of omega in 1975. And they are responsible for the Andrews family even having a restaurant in the first place. So everyone, lets not throw stone when most of us have no idea what happened or hat we're talking about! If everyone wants to talk then I suggest that we k ow why we're talking about first.
heidi swatscheno
6:00 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
yes mike they are. and sadly jimmy or maybe it's "mike" now ruined it for George Stravopolos.
Mike
11:20 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
Heidi- didn't you post a comment saying that you hope they keep papa and jimmy away from the place?? Why would you post that if george stravopolos AKA papa is the ones that "ruined it"?? Besides that, it's funny how all of a sudden you car SO much about Omega when all you did was complain about Andrews when you are there???
And Eilenn- if you want to sit there and tell me to get "my facts straight before I talk about other people's families", and "this isnt the place", then why don't you tell everyone else the same thing??
Eileen
5:42 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Because Mike you posted comments about another person's family that really has NOTHING to do with Omega.....So glad that you are such a good friend of Terry Banks, wonder if he'd appreciate you talking about something that is NOONE'S business except for the people that it concerns......
Eileen
5:42 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Mike- If I saw someone else post a comment on an article about Omega that had nothing to do with Omega I would tell them the same thing....But for you to post comments about people's families on a public page about something that has nothing to do with the subject is WRONG.......And yes get all your facts straight, you might know part of the story but you don't know it all......Ask Terry Banks if he appreciates you talking about his business on here.....
Mike
11:20 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
Also Eileen- I DO have my facts straight. I am very close friends with Terry Banks, the owner of United Limousine!!!
Mike
11:20 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
Heidi- lets just see how long you last there THIS time. Considering Nick Andrews is the one that fired you LAST TIME!
Mike
11:20 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
And no, this is not jimmy. I don't really even like the kid. But that being said, I DO respect him. He's gone through hell and fought it til the end. And you servers and partly to blame for it.
Mike
11:20 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
And let's not forget, the kid and "papa" lost their mother/wife during everything that happened. An even after all that, they STILL fought it til the end.