Rare Waterfront Restaurant & Bar Far Northwest Sub

Business Overview:

Rare Waterfront Restaurant & Bar Far Northwest Suburb of Chicago - Property Included!

“Offers Direct Channel Frontage Leading Into The Chain O’ Lakes, Complete With Outdoor Seating & 4 Private Boat Slips”

An exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire a fully equipped restaurant operation and its real estate in one of Lake County’s most desirable waterfront recreational markets. This established independent restaurant occupies a highly visible freestanding building with a full-service bar and video gaming - all the infrastructure already in place for a new owner! Build long-term equity through real estate ownership while operating from a location that would be prohibitively expensive to replicate today. Boaters make it a destination throughout the busy spring, summer and fall seasons, while a loyal local customer base keeps business steady year-round.

Inside is a commercial kitchen with 12ft hood, dining room and 6-tap bar, plus investments in updated kitchen equipment, plumbing improvements and a new front entrance. Multiple revenue streams include food, beverage and 6 licensed video gaming terminals that generated $72,268 in 2025 gaming income. Ideal for an owner-operator seeking their own building or an investor wanting irreplaceable waterfront commercial property with tremendous upside.

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Property Features and Assets:

Prime location within the renowned Chain O’ Lakes, one of the Midwest’s premier boating and tourism destinations. Its 15 interconnected lakes form one of the country’s busiest inland recreational waterways, drawing boaters, anglers, vacationers and weekend travelers from across greater Chicago. Positioned on a busy avenue among established local restaurants and taverns, minutes from a movie theater, shopping centers and everyday services, between two primary transportation corridors near the Metra station. Single-story building built 1950 on 0.29 acres with 100ft of road frontage, 24 parking spaces and B2 zoning. Established 1993. Property priced at just $110/sqft, well below the area’s retail benchmark. Annual real estate taxes $6,387. Seller retiring.

SqFt: 2,500
Seating: 96 (12 Bar + 60 Inside + 24 Outside)
Hrs: Mon-Fri 3pm-10pm; Sat-Sun 10am-10pm
Owners Role: Absentee
Training: One week on-site
Property: Owned & Included - Asset Sale, All FF&E Included

Market Competition and Expansion:

Ideal for an experienced operator to continue the current concept or introduce an entirely new vision. The existing layout and infrastructure easily accommodate a breakfast and brunch café, American grill, pizza and Italian restaurant, Mexican restaurant and tequila bar, BBQ, seafood, destination lakefront dining, neighborhood pub, sports bar, cocktail lounge or gaming entertainment venue. Comparable waterfront restaurant properties very seldom become available at this price point in today’s market, and few match its blend of established facility, gaming income and long-term real estate investment value.

New ownership can expand waterfront deck entertainment with live music, themed events, boat-in parties and private gatherings; extend operating hours; add online ordering, takeout and 3rd-party delivery; grow bar sales through specialty cocktails, craft beer, happy hour promotions and community events; boost gaming revenue with targeted promotions and player loyalty programs; or rebrand entirely while leveraging the fully equipped kitchen, full-service bar and boat docks.

Reason for Selling:

Retiring. Kindly ask the seller for more information.

Additional Details:

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