After four decades at the corner of Cicero and 92nd Street, Jedi’s Garden Restaurant is closing its doors. Owner Tom Papadopoulos shared the news Wednesday on Facebook, calling it one of the hardest decisions of his life.
“With a heavy heart, I want to share that after 40 years, Jedi’s will be closing its doors at our Oak Lawn location,” Papadopoulos wrote. “When I opened Jedi’s all those years ago, I was younger, hopeful, and honestly unsure of what the future would bring. I put everything I had into this place—early mornings, late nights, missed holidays, tired days, and endless hard work—all because I believed in this restaurant and in the community around it. What I never expected was how deeply Jedi’s would become part of my life, and how many of you would become part of my family.”
Jedi’s was a gathering place for Oak Lawn residents.
Diners arrived in Teslas, Cadillacs, and decade-old Chevys. Families celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations. Couples went on first dates at its tables, and quiet gatherings after funerals found comfort in its familiar booths. Over the years, Papadopoulos watched generations of children grow up, some eventually bringing their own children to eat where they once sat.
“I’ve shared laughs, tears, celebrations, and quiet conversations across these tables,” he wrote. “Many of you came in as customers and stayed as friends. Seeing familiar faces walk through the door day after day is what kept me going, even on the hardest days.”
The menu offered something for everyone, from Denver omelets to steak dinners to the famously eclectic “Jedi’s garbage salad,” and the fried fish platter earned a devoted following. But it was the people who made the restaurant truly special, Papadopoulos said.
Oak Lawn has been his home for 40 years, and closing the restaurant leaves him with mixed emotions. “The love, loyalty, and support you’ve shown me and my family is something I will forever be grateful for,” he said. “Thank you for supporting my dream, for standing by us, and for allowing Jedi’s to be part of your lives for so long.”