Italian Restaurant & Bar - Award-Winning, Absentee

Business Overview:

Award-winning, 20-year independent Italian restaurant and bar in a historic McHenry County downtown, run by a full-time General Manager while the owner is absentee. 2025 net sales of $2,267,394 and SDE of $266,505. Asking $750,000 (about 2.8x SDE), including approximately $200,000 of FF&E. Inventory (about $25,000) is sold at cost at closing.

Authentic, scratch-made Southern Italian menu built on family recipes: house-made pastas, wood-fired pizza, veal, chicken and seafood entrees, homemade desserts, and a full bar with Italian and local wines and craft cocktails. Multiple revenue streams: dine-in, bar, established on- and off-site catering, takeout/delivery, and five video gaming terminals ($26,300 in 2025 location revenue).

Outstanding reputation: 4.5 stars on Google with 1,500+ reviews, Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice and #2 of 122 local restaurants, and a 96% Facebook recommendation rate. Tenured staff of 43, and the GM will stay after the sale.

Open for dinner only, six days a week, so lunch, brunch and Mondays are untapped upside. Rent is only 3.5% of sales. No SBA/EIDL loans or liens. Financials provided to qualified buyers after a signed NDA.

Contact the Seller:

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Property Features and Assets:

Freestanding two-story masonry building on the main street of a walkable, historic downtown at a lighted intersection, in the same location since 2005. 5,000 sq ft main floor with 200 seats, a full bar, exposed-brick and stained-glass dining rooms, and a private party room, plus a full basement for storage. Street and public parking plus a small private lot. Traffic counts of about 8,300 vehicles per day in front and 36,000 to 42,500 at the nearby state-route intersection.

Leased at $6,700/month gross (3.5% of sales). Lease runs through December 2027 with one 5-year option; a new lease or extension will be negotiated with the new landlord as part of the sale. About $200,000 of FF&E is included, with a fully equipped kitchen line (hood, fryers, ranges, salamander, convection oven). Hours: Tue-Thu 4-9pm, Fri-Sat 4-10pm, Sun 4-9pm, closed Monday.

Market Competition and Expansion:

Affluent, stable trade area in Chicago's far northwest suburbs along the Fox River. Within one mile: 7,549 residents, $113,670 median household income and 84% home ownership. Within three miles: 52,972 residents. Within five miles: 151,243 residents and $212.6 million in annual spending on food away from home.

More than 120 restaurants compete in the local market, but this restaurant ranks #2 on Tripadvisor and has built a loyal, repeat clientele over two decades. Its 200 seats, full bar, private-event space and catering make it the area's go-to Italian destination for family dinners, celebrations and corporate events.

Expansion: add lunch, weekend brunch and Monday service; grow catering and private events; add wine dinners, live music and event programming.

Reason for Selling:

Owner is downsizing. Kindly ask the seller for more information.

Additional Details:

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