Bill Malliaras, owner of Julliani’s, 7239 W. College Drive, is celebrating his 35th anniversary as owner of the Palos Heights restaurant. (File photo)
Julliani’s celebrates 35 years of loving Palos Heights
By Bob Bong
Bill Malliaras has seen his share of ups and downs in 35 years of operating a restaurant in Palos Heights.
Originally, Malliaras and his brother Perry opened a Giordano’s franchise in 1988 at 7239 W. College Drive. The chain was eventually sold, and the brothers went independent in 2001 and Julliani’s was born.
“It was a good experience,” Malliaras says. “But they were sold and we went out on our own.”
Things were tough when they opened Julliani’s. “We lost a good chunk of our business. It takes time to win peoples confidence back after something like that.”
The road to 35 years has had its share of potholes.
The terror attacks in September 2001 put a damper on business.
Perry left the business in 2006.
The banking crisis of 2007-2008 took its toll on dining out.
Things really improved after a remodeling project in 2009, but then came COVID.
“COVID was terrible for business,” he said. “It was the worse it ever was. It changed everything. Before, 35 percent of our business was delivery. Now, it’s closer to 50 percent. I’m thinking of downsizing my dining room. Restaurants are having to adapt to a new normal.”
And, now, inflation is taking its toll.
“My rent has gone from $4,500 a month to $13,000, and my payroll is up to $7,300.”
Through it all, Malliaras has kept his chin up and tried to give people great food and a place to enjoy dining.
“I love Palos Heights,” he says. “No business can do it without the support of the community. I’ve become a part of the community I love. We have earned their trust.
“I just want to say ‘thank you’ to the community for allowing me to be a part of their lives.”
A part of his success over the years has been his staff. “I have employees who have been with me 20-30 years.”
While Malliaras would like to stay around for 35 more years, he thinks business needs a helping hand from local government.
“Bad policies are hurting small businesses,” he said. “We need poker machines. It’s ridiculous we don’t have them. Every town around us has them. We need a level playing field.”
Julliani’s is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
For information, call 708-361-4222.
8 Comments
Local News
Comings & Goings: Great Lakes Beer and Bourbon closes
Spread the loveGreat Lakes Beer and Bourbon abruptly closed its doors earlier this month in Palos Park after being open since last summer. The pub at 12900 S. LaGrange Road in Palos Park closed September 3 with little warning. The business posted a farewell message on its Facebook page: “To all our loyal customers over…
Remembering 9/11: Shepard High’s JROTC Cadets Walk in Honor of Fallen
Spread the loveShepard High School students took time last week to remember fallen heroes during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony. On the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 11, Shepard High School JROTC students and staff members met on the school’s football field at 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights, to honor the fallen heroes of the 9/11…
Stagg High Welcomes 3,500 for Marching Band Competition
Spread the loveMarching bands came together last weekend to share their love of music. Stagg High School, 8015 W. 111th St., Palos Hills, welcomed more than 20 marching bands from around the area at its annual March Band Jamboree on September 7. The Jamboree began with the national anthem performed by area middle schoolers from…
Football | Libertyville downs Richards for second year in row
Spread the loveLibertyville 48, Richards 15 Libertyville beat Richards in Week 2 for the second straight season, this time 48-15, to drop the Bulldogs to 1-1. Jaiden Henry scored on a 20-yard reception and Myles Mitchell tallied on a 2-yard TD run for Richards. The Bulldogs travel to Eisnehower this week for both teams’ South…
Football | Nazareth’s Logan Malachuk completes nine passes — six of them for TDs — in romp
Spread the loveNazareth 42, Kenwood 15 Nazareth senior quarterback Logan Malachuk threw for 275 yards and six touchdown passes as the Roadrunners (2-0) trounced Kenwood, 42-15, in a non-conference matchup in LaGrange Park. Malachuk, who has been under center the past two seasons as nazareth won back-to-back state championships, did that damage despite completing only…
Football | Flutman and Boersma connect for four scores as Chicago Christian tops Elmwood Park
Spread the loveCaden Boersma returned a punt for a touchdown and caught four scoring passes from Christian Flutman as Chicago Christian defeated Elmwood Park, 49-16, on Sept. 6 in Palos Heights. Kenny Jager had a rushing TD for the Knights (2-0), who were up 49-0 at halftime. Chicago Christian plays at Wheaton Academy this week.
Football | Jake Ritter shines and Marist is great late in win over Brother Rice
Spread the loveIt’s a new era at Marist under first-year head coach Mike Fitzgerald and his staff. But the more things change, the more they stay the same; at least when it comes to the recent history of the program’s annual neighborhood matchup with Brother Rice. RedHawks running back John McAuliffe’s second touchdown of the…
Northern Illinois likely wrecks Notre Dame’s season
Spread the loveThe Northern Illinois football team pulled off the biggest win in school history and the biggest stunner of the 2024 college football season thus far with a 16-14 win over 5th-ranked Notre Dame on Sept. 7 in South Bend. Three former area players are on the Huskies’ roster. Former Shepard star Roy Williams,…
National Football Players Father’s Association honors Hall of Famer Steve McMichael
Spread the loveThe Chicago Bears honored former defensive tackle and newly inducted Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve McMichael during the team’s home opener on Sept. 8 at Soldier Field. Three days earlier, McMichael he was honored by the National Football Players Fathers Association. The new vice president of that group is Orland Park Fire…
Girls Volleyball | St. Laurence strong on and off the court
Spread the loveThe St. Laurence girls volleyball players are competitive on and off the court. On the court, the Vikings made it to Class 3A Supersectional play the past two seasons before ending those campaigns with losses to Joliet Catholic in 2022 and St. Ignatius in 2023. They are off to a big start this…
Neighbors
In bribery trial, AT&T lobbyists detail contentious meeting with Madigan ally
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – On an afternoon in late April 2017, recently retired state Rep. Eddie Acevedo was called to a meeting in the state Capitol in Springfield. The 20-year veteran lawmaker had joined his sons’ lobbying firm and was looking for work. Meeting with a trio of lobbyists for…
A year after end of cash bail, early research shows impact less than many hoped or feared
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – One year after Illinois became the first state in the nation to eliminate the use of cash bail, the impact on the state’s criminal justice system appears to have been far less dramatic than people on either side of the debate had predicted. That, at least,…
ADM carbon sequestration project violated Safe Drinking Water Act, per EPA
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com DECATUR – Agribusiness giant ADM violated federal regulations, a federal permit and the Safe Drinking Water Act earlier this year when a monitoring well at their carbon sequestration site in Decatur leaked liquified carbon dioxide into “unauthorized zones,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In an August…
On witness stand, former AT&T lobbyist describes how Madigan ally got $22,500 contract
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – The day before Thanksgiving in 2016, then-AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza read some news that frustrated him. It seemed that energy giant Exelon, the parent company of Chicago-based electric utility Commonwealth Edison, was going to get a big assist from Springfield that would prevent it…
Coroner’s affidavit shows as many as 800 human remains could have been misidentified
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com As many as 800 families across the country who patronized a Carlinville funeral home may never know if the remains on their mantles belong to their loved ones, according to an affidavit signed by Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon. The affidavit was filed in a lawsuit pending against…
Calculated bribe or ‘kiss up’ to Madigan? Corruption trial kicks off for former AT&T boss
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – As the federal corruption trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza formally kicked off on Wednesday, prosecutors and defense attorneys painted two very different pictures of a political hire the telecom giant made in 2017. La Schiazza is accused of bribing former Illinois House…
Supreme Court hears cases pertaining to detention under the SAFE-T Act
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a pair of cases that test the authority of local courts to hold criminal suspects behind bars while they await trial. The cases come almost one year to the day after the court allowed a new law abolishing…
Supreme Court hears cases pertaining to detention under the SAFE-T Act
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a pair of cases that test the authority of local courts to hold criminal suspects behind bars while they await trial. The cases come almost one year to the day after the court allowed a new law abolishing…
Jury selection begins in trial of former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday in the trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza, who federal prosecutors allege bribed once-powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation in Springfield. It’s the last in a series of related trials that…
East St. Louis forum to tackle persistent childhood poverty
By MOLLY PARKER Capitol News Illinois mparker@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois has the potential to eradicate childhood poverty, but it will require a concentrated, sustained effort in partnership with families and disadvantaged communities, says Tasha Green Cruzat, president of Children’s Advocates for Change, a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on childhood wellbeing. This hope drives the focus of the policy…
Congratulations Bill! You have always offered a good reasonably priced meal! Our family has been customers for all your 35 years. You must be a good person to work for if your staff have been there all these years!! We hope to see you stay open for many more years!
Me and my family love Jullianis and eat there frequently. Great food, great service and we love the atmosphere there. I order lunch from there usually once a week while working. I love the lunch specials.
Congratulations ???? My family and I enjoy your restaurant so much. We have even brought some family and friends. Your food is always good and within our budget. If we have a choice, we visit Jullianis. Wishing you many more years doing what you do. Barb G.
Congratulations Bill! Food and service are always great!
My family and I were in the restaurant on April 20, 2023.. We entered the restaurant before 7:00 pm.
Food was great as usual. The problem was, when the cleanup guy decided
to mop the floors using bleach at 7:45. Talk about ruin your meal, wow, The bleach smell was terrible. He should have mopped the men’s bathroom where the urine smell is horrible,,it may have helped in there,
At 8:05 we needed to order a carry out, we were told by the waitress, that the kitchen was closed. Its 8:05. Then the lights in the back dining room were turned off.. it was obvious that the place was trying to close, it’s now 8:10..wow, talk about feeling rushed.. We have been customers for years and it’s very obvious that when Bills not around the restaurant is run by people that just do not care about their customers.. it really bothers me to write this negative review, but if Bill doesn’t take control, Juliana’s will not be around much longer..
Congratulations Bill. We ❤️ u and ur place ❤️❤️❤️love Lynda ♥️see ya soon
Congratulations Bill, you are a class act and run a wonderful restaurant where families can meet to enjoy a great pizza to celebrating an occasion. We moved to Indiana a few years ago but, still come back for the best ever pizza ????????❤️????????
Thank you for all you continue to do for your customers, it’s beyond appreciated.
Moe
Congrats Bill! We love Julianni’s! One of our favorite places for pizza, salads and more! You are always a welcoming sight whenever we see you there. Thank you for what you have built and continue to build in our community, great food, great atmosphere and a fun family place to go. All our best for your continued success in Palos Heights!