Local restaurateur brings back beloved Jefferson Park eatery after five-month closure.
Jefferson Park's long-standing restaurant, Gale Street Inn, is set to reopen in December under the new ownership of Paulo Villabona. The 50-year-old restaurant veteran purchased the establishment with the help of two family members who will serve as silent partners.
Villabona has lived in Jefferson Park since 2019 and has a strong passion for food and hospitality. He brings 36 years of experience in the restaurant industry to the table, having started as a dishwasher and worked his way up to become a general manager at Bar Siena in Skokie.
According to Villabona, being a restaurant owner is a lifelong dream, and Gale Street Inn's closure sparked an opportunity to revive the beloved eatery. "We fell in love with the neighborhood and the community," he said. "We were lamenting how there wasn’t much traffic near Milwaukee and Lawrence, and we daydreamed of opening up a business... Then when I read about the restaurant closing, everything lined up. I said, 'Let’s bring this back.'"
The new owner has promised to maintain the core elements that made Gale Street Inn a favorite among locals while introducing some innovative changes. "We're going to keep the hits, absolutely," Villabona said. "But we’re going to play around with it and stretch our wings on some things. We’ll keep the integrity of what it is."
Gale Street Inn's famous tender baby back ribs will remain a staple on the menu, according to former owner George Karzas. "Seven out of 10 entrees at Gale Street Inn include barbecue ribs," he said. "Just have your supporting items [to] knock it out. I think he will." Karzas cited staffing issues as his reason for closing the restaurant in June.
The return of Gale Street Inn is seen as a welcome addition to the local community, with nearby business owners expressing their enthusiasm for the eatery's reopening. Mike Jeffers, general manager of the Copernicus Center and Gateway Theater, said the venue looks forward to sending customers to Gale Street Inn when they need a place to dine.
As Villabona prepares to relaunch his new venture, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining fair prices and treating staff well. "It's really a labor of love," Karzas noted in reference to the challenges faced by many restaurant owners.
Gale Street Inn is set to reopen in December, promising to restore its place as a favorite destination for foodies in Jefferson Park.
Jefferson Park's long-standing restaurant, Gale Street Inn, is set to reopen in December under the new ownership of Paulo Villabona. The 50-year-old restaurant veteran purchased the establishment with the help of two family members who will serve as silent partners.
Villabona has lived in Jefferson Park since 2019 and has a strong passion for food and hospitality. He brings 36 years of experience in the restaurant industry to the table, having started as a dishwasher and worked his way up to become a general manager at Bar Siena in Skokie.
According to Villabona, being a restaurant owner is a lifelong dream, and Gale Street Inn's closure sparked an opportunity to revive the beloved eatery. "We fell in love with the neighborhood and the community," he said. "We were lamenting how there wasn’t much traffic near Milwaukee and Lawrence, and we daydreamed of opening up a business... Then when I read about the restaurant closing, everything lined up. I said, 'Let’s bring this back.'"
The new owner has promised to maintain the core elements that made Gale Street Inn a favorite among locals while introducing some innovative changes. "We're going to keep the hits, absolutely," Villabona said. "But we’re going to play around with it and stretch our wings on some things. We’ll keep the integrity of what it is."
Gale Street Inn's famous tender baby back ribs will remain a staple on the menu, according to former owner George Karzas. "Seven out of 10 entrees at Gale Street Inn include barbecue ribs," he said. "Just have your supporting items [to] knock it out. I think he will." Karzas cited staffing issues as his reason for closing the restaurant in June.
The return of Gale Street Inn is seen as a welcome addition to the local community, with nearby business owners expressing their enthusiasm for the eatery's reopening. Mike Jeffers, general manager of the Copernicus Center and Gateway Theater, said the venue looks forward to sending customers to Gale Street Inn when they need a place to dine.
As Villabona prepares to relaunch his new venture, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining fair prices and treating staff well. "It's really a labor of love," Karzas noted in reference to the challenges faced by many restaurant owners.
Gale Street Inn is set to reopen in December, promising to restore its place as a favorite destination for foodies in Jefferson Park.
! As someone who's super passionate about supporting local businesses and community spots, it's amazing to see this beloved eatery get a second chance 
. Paulo Villabona seems like an awesome owner who truly cares about the neighborhood and its people - his dedication to maintaining the core elements while innovating is gonna be a total win 
. The tender baby back ribs are a MUST-TRY, btw! 
️ Can't wait to try out Gale Street Inn's revamped menu in December 
. It's all about supporting local businesses and keeping our community vibrant 
. Bring on the good vibes and delicious food 
!
I'm so stoked that Gale Street Inn is coming back! It's always sad when local faves close up shop, but it's amazing to see someone like Paulo Villabona step in and bring back the magic. 
Can't wait to get my hands on them again! It's great to see the community coming together to support this new owner and his vision. Fingers crossed it stays true to its roots while still bringing something fresh to the table (pun intended). Let's give Gale Street Inn a warm welcome back in December! 
. and btw, those tender bbq ribs r gonna b a staple 4 life! 
can't wait 2 see what new recipes they got cookin up 
i'm so stoked that Gale Street Inn is coming back to life!!! i mean, who wouldn't want to dine at a restaurant with 36 yrs of experience under one roof? 
paulo villabona seems like the real deal, and it's awesome that he's got a passion for food & hospitality that rivals his 50 yr old self (just kidding, but seriously, 50 is old in restaurant years, lol 
). i'm loving the fact that he's gonna keep the good stuff while shaking things up a bit - those tender baby back ribs are still on the menu, yay! 
I love how Villabona wants to maintain the core elements that made it a favorite among locals while shaking things up with some innovative changes. And those tender baby back ribs are staying on the menu - a win for me too! 
Can't wait to try it out when it reopens in December! 
! I mean, 5 months is way too long for a restaurant to be closed down 
. The fact that Paulo Villabona is a local and has a passion for food and hospitality is awesome 
. And, I love that he's all about fair prices and treating staff well 
. And let's be real, it's not just about the food – it's about creating a community vibe that makes you wanna come back again and again 
.
. It's great to hear he wants to keep the classic menu items like those tender baby back ribs 
. Can't wait to try it out in Dec! 
. This guy Villabona thinks he can just waltz in and change up the formula that made Gale Street Inn so popular? I mean, those tender baby back ribs are a big part of its charm - don't fix what ain't broke, right? And with staffing issues being the reason for the closure before, I'm not convinced that Villabona is just going to magically solve all their problems. Plus, he's got family members involved as silent partners... sounds like a recipe for conflict to me 
.