Charmaine Candler stands in front of her new restaurant in Country Club Hills. (Supplied photo)
Comings & Goings: Chef opens own restaurant in Country Club Hills
By Bob Bong
Charmaine Candler began her journey to restaurateur while she was tending bar at Aces Bar and Grill in Country Club Hills and would regularly bring in home-cooked food for her customers.
Four years ago, she officially opened her Charmz Kitchen inside Aces and started serving her Southern cuisine and signature egg rolls dubbed Charmz Rolls. In addition, Candler became known for her Philly Steaks, Philly Chicken, Buffalo Chicken and Jerk Chicken.
“The catering and walk-in traffic was overwhelming,” she said partly because of the space limitations of Aces kitchen.
She soon knew it was time to part ways with Aces and find a larger space.
“I left Aces but didn’t want to leave my Country Club Hills family,” she said.
She found space in the same plaza as Aces and earlier this month opened Charmz Kitchen at the northwest corner of 183rd Street and Cicero Avenue.
“We had our soft opening on October 8. We wanted to make sure we had everything just right before we had our grand opening.”
The soft opening menu is not as extensive as the one she’ll offer after her grand opening, but it still has her popular favorites.
“The menu will be quite diverse,” she promised for after the grand opening, which is scheduled for November 12.
Candler said the new space has room for 10-15 diners inside the restaurant, but she anticipates take-out and her popular catering service will be big. Delivery at present is through Door Dash and Uber Eats, but she hopes to offer her own delivery service in the near future.
Since first opening, Candler said she has been busy catering for churches, government bodies, civic organizations, and weddings.
“I first became acquainted with Ms. Candler and her soulful cuisine over two years ago while attending a ministers’ conference. Her catering operation was second to none. But moreover, her delicious variety of foods was no short of brilliant. Her steaks, salads, and Charmz egg rolls were a favorite at our event. I encourage all Cook County residents to embrace Ms. Candler and support her wonderful food establishment,” said Bishop Larry D. Trotter of Sweet Holy Spirit Church in Chicago.
Candler also expects to grow even larger in the future.
“This is not the end. This is just a stepping stone toward my larger goal,” she said.
Candler said she’s been heading in this direction since she was a child.
She learned about cooking from her mother and great-grandmother as a child in the South. “I’ve been cooking full course meals since I was 11,” she said.
“I’ve learned my cooking skills from life experience rather than school,” she said, adding she did earn cooking certifications and also earned a degree in business administration.
That has exposed her to diverse cooking styles and cuisines and prepared her to run her own business.
Her favorite foods are Mexican and Northern Italian.
Candler said she was approached by many business leaders and elected officials who attempted to recruit her to a variety of municipalities to launch her new restaurant. She said she felt compelled to remain in Country Club Hills.
“We are pleased to welcome Charmz Kitchen to Country Club Hills,” said Mayor James W. Ford. “Given the past success of Chef Candler’s business model, we are encouraging our residents to patronize her new location. Offering diverse forms of eateries is a welcoming attraction for any town. Surely the Charmz Kitchen menu selection will allow our residents and visitors great options in satisfying their taste buds.”
Hours at Charmz Kitchen will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday, from 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Charmz Kitchen and Catering Restaurant
4858 W. 183rd Street, Country Club Hills
www.charmzkitchenandcatering.com
708-960-3974
Local News
Work moving forward at Marquette Park
Spread the love. Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 . In the March 29 edition of the Greater Southwest News-Herald, I wrote a story about a town hall meeting at Marquette Park, we learned of some of the upcoming plans the Park District has for…
Sophia Smith’s brace sinks Red Stars
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Home has not been that sweet lately for the Chicago Red Stars. The team lost its second straight game at SeatGeek Stadium with a 2-0 setback to Portland in front of an announced crowd of 4,443 on April 27. Portland star Sophia Smith scored in the 10th and 26th…
Nazareth Academy celebrates ‘special talent’ J.J. McCarthy in NFL Draft
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Dennis Moran has no doubts that J.J. McCarthy – the former Nazareth Academy quarterback who is now with the Minnesota Vikings – will succeed in the National Football League. Moran was among about 60 or so Nazareth Academy fans, friends and coaches who gathered Thursday night at The Stadium Club…
Brother Rice names Al Perez next soccer coach
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent A few new coaches are dotting the area high school athletic scene. One of the more notable hires was Brother Rice bringing Al Perez aboard as the soccer coach. Perez led Chicago Public League power Washington to a Class 2A state championship in 2013, a fourth-place finish in 2015…
Police Council rallies to save ShotSpotter
Spread the love. By Alexis Bocanegra Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (773) 949-1509 • grcl.alex23@gmail.com . Chicago Lawn (8th) District Police Council members Mark Hamberlin, Al Cacciottolo and Jason Huff have created an online petition to save ShotSpotter. As you may have read in the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound back in March, Mayor…
Capacity crowd speaks out against Evergreen Park dispensary
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Additional chairs had to be brought out to seat an overflow crowd of Evergreen Park residents who attended a meeting April 15 regarding a proposed cannabis dispensary for the village. And many who were in attendance voiced their opposition to having a dispensary in Evergreen Park. Most of the people cited…
Countryside puts dog park on hold, will require leashes in two parks
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch The city of Countryside has put on hold building a dog park, but canines and their owners are still in store for a treat. The city council has unanimously approved a plan to permit dogs in City Park and Countryside Park this year. Previously, they were not allowed in the…
Bridgeview approves auto repair shop
Spread the loveMoves up time for May 1 village board meeting By Steve Metsch Bridgeview is getting a new automotive repair shop. The village board at its April 17 matinee meeting approved a special use permit that will allow a repair shop at 9010 S. Beloit Ave. There was no discussion among trustees. The board…
Summit Fire Department blood drive draws a crowd
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan The Summit Fire Department, along with the Village of Summit, and the Argo Summit Lions Club held a blood drive this past Saturday, and it drew a crowd that even impressed the American Red Cross. It took place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. with non-stop donors walking through the…
Neighbors
Man charged with child abduction in Stickney Township
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A Chicago man was charged last week with child abduction and luring of a minor after Cook County Sheriff’s Police detectives found he attempted to lure a minor into his vehicle, said Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. According to police, about 4:43 p.m. on Monday, April 22, officers responded…
Worth Library celebrates 60th anniversary
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The Worth Public Library has been around for decades. Resting in the heart of the village at 6917 W. 111th St., the library held an event focusing on its rich background story on April 23 with a historical photo exhibit. “It’s amazing because this library is still so important to…
Rose Zubik, Woman’s Club veteran, installed as 3rd District president
Spread the love Rose Zubik, of Palos Heights, the new president of the 3rd District General Federation of Women’s Clubs-Illinois, lights a candle during the installation ceremony held April 27 at Fox’s Restaurant in Orland Park. Heather Linehan, the outgoing president, is beside her.By Dermot Connolly A longtime member of the Palos Heights Woman’s Club…
Shots fired in Chicago Ridge Commons parking lot
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Shots were fired Wednesday night in the parking lot at Chicago Ridge Commons mall. Police said they received reports of the shooting about 9:45 p.m. No injuries were reported. Multiple witnesses told police four men were walking through the parking lot from the XSport Fitness area. They approached two vehicles…
Hair salon with a ‘flair’ marks first year in Chicago Ridge
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Melissa Kowalski wanted to do something meaningful to mark the first-year anniversary of her Flair With Hair Salon in Chicago Ridge. “We did not have a grand opening last year so I wanted to do something really special,” Kowalski said. “We wanted to say thank you to our clients.” Kowalski,…
Palos East fifth-grader wins Scholastic Storyworks writing contest
Spread the loveGabriel Chowaniec, a fifth-grader at Palos East Elementary School, has been named a winner of the Scholastic Storyworks Magazine writing contest. Gabriel, who is a student in Cathy Casey’s fifth-grade classroom, was named one of only five winners nationally for the December 2023/January 2024 competition. Garbriel’s submission for the nonfiction story “The Shattered Land,” “showed a strong understanding of the text along with the ability to author a well-organized…
Shepard celebrates Autism Week
Spread the loveBy Kelly White World Autism Acceptance Week is organized by the National Autistic Society in the first week of April and aims to raise awareness about the challenges autistic people face across all areas of society. Not missing out the opportunity to celebrate all-inclusion was Shepard High School, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos…
Billions of cicadas get ready to raise a racket
Spread the loveBy Kelly White If you haven’t heard the buzz yet, you will soon. With 2024 marking a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois, billions of the red-eyed buggers will soon be making an appearance. Periodical cicada broods XIII and XIX will be emerging throughout much of the state at the same time.…
‘A man of honor, a beacon of kindness’
Spread the love. Chicago weeps for Officer Luis Huesca . By Tim Hadac People across the Southwest Side shed tears earlier this week, as throngs of police officers and other filled the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel at 77th and Western for a funeral Mass for CPD Officer Luis M. Huesca. Officer Huesca was…