Fountain Restaurant, housed in a large but modest building at 6435 W. Archer Avenue, is destined to succeed based on its new owner’s experience.
Perez, who started his first restaurant in 2003, brings years of expertise to his latest venture.
“I have been in the restaurant business for 25 years, said Benjamin Perez. “I have two other restaurants in a line along 59th street that I own by my company Benara Corporation.”
The former Peaches and Pears restaurant closed after 29 years saying its farewells to loyal customers in a post on Facebook dated January 26, 2025.
Perez, a quiet but engaging man, is all about his businesses. He became aware the property was for sale from an agent he works with.
“They closed down,” he said. “I have an agent and they called me to say it was available, so I came and looked at it and I liked it. I made a deal with the [former] owners and that’s how I ended up with this restaurant. Easy! Yes!”
A March 1 Facebook post by an excited former Peaches patron announced the Fountain Restaurant’s opening and expressed satisfaction with the food.
Your first hint that the food quality stands up is that at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday morning, a typically slow day, according to Perez, the parking lot was more than half full.
No food offerings will change on the menu, especially not the popular “Taste of Poland” featuring breaded pork (Schabowy), fresh or smoked Polish sausage, better known as Kielbasa, stuffed cabbage (Golbacki) and more, he said.
“No, no, no,” Perez said. “I changed the way they had it in print to say The Fountain Restaurant but everything they had on the menu for all the customers that liked what was on the food selections of the menu is going to be there.”
Menu subsections include breakfast items ranging from crepes, eggs, waffles, steak and skillets named for various countries like Mexican (Chorizo sausage and jalapenos), Irish (Corned beef hash and onions) a, Polakita (Smoked sausage and onions) omelettes, classic sandwiches and soups.
Some former restaurant staff left when the restaurant was sold. Aside from hiring “front of house” help, Perez will do needed work in the parking lot and is considering renovating the restaurant but overall, it’s in decent shape, he said.
One young diner, Samantha Gasteier, celebrated her 11th birthday at Fountain on April 1 with a plate of waffles, eggs, bacon, and sausage, her favorites. Asked if she had any April Fools’ Day pranks planned, she smiled and said, “A little bit.”
Owner Perez made recommendations of his own for new and existing customers.
“I believe everything we do here is delicious but there is Polish food that everybody here really likes. The skillets, the steaks … everything is good here,” he said.
Perez says business is already booming on weekends and is grateful for the success he’s had in his life.
“The weekends are the best,” he said. “I thank God and my family for their support.”
Fountain Restaurant offers dine-in, takeout, and catering services. Early Bird Specials, known as “The Fountain Deals,” run Monday through Friday from 7 to 11 a.m.
