A fire caused major damage to an iconic Palos Hills restaurant last year, but despite the setback, the owners of the business said there is good news.
The Valley Inn Restaurant, which was located at 8300 W. 107th St., closed after sustaining extensive damage during an early morning blaze last July.
Dennis and Becky Ristucci, the present owners of Valley Inn, said the damage was too great to reopen the restaurant.
Despite that setback, the owners said that their Valley Inn Catering, 10620 S. Roberts Road, which is less than a mile from the shuttered restaurant, is open for business.
The Ristuccis, of Hickory Hills, were relieved no one was injured when the fire occurred.
Dennis and his son, Frankie, 20, noticed smoke emanating from the building after viewing the cameras they had monitoring the structure.
They immediately arrived at the restaurant and Frankie alerted tenants who were living on the second floor. His actions may have saved their lives.
It was a traumatic period, Becky said, but they withstood it and were quickly up and running after the fire, which she said was caused by a faulty electrical outlet.
“We were actually catering food a week after it happened,” Becky said.
Becky said her in-laws, Faye and Frank Ristucci, first opened the Valley Inn in 1972. It soon became a neighborhood favorite.
The present owners just added to what Faye and Frank first introduced. It was initially known as a pizza parlor and tavern but grew into a full-scale restaurant, featuring Italian dishes, pastas, chicken dinners, and various kinds of comfort food.
The restaurant actually dates back to 1938 and was originally owned by a family with the last name of Anderson. The restaurant at that time was in the middle of vacant territory.
While the future of the now closed Valley Inn Restaurant is unknown at this time, the catering business is going strong. That is also good news for members of the North Palos Fire Protection District, which is located directly across the street from the catering business.
Becky said firefighters were among the most loyal customers of the restaurant.
“So, what we are trying to do is get the word out,” Becky said. “This is not a farewell. We just want to promote our catering business.”
Business was steady during a visit to the catering business on Saturday.
Frankie mentioned that for longtime customers who frequented the restaurant, they can still expect the same meals with their catering business.
Becky said that they offer the fried chicken special from noon to 7 p.m. Wednesdays. They also offer a bowl of chili, a chili mac bowl, and a “tamale boat” on Wednesdays through Sundays.
The Thursday meat loaf dinner specials include mashed potatoes with gravy and corn. The family meal also includes a dinner salad, Becky said.
Family meals of 12 pieces of fried chicken, sausage and peppers, baked mostaccioli, and mashed potatoes with gravy are on the menu.
The family-run business also includes another son, Teddy, 24, who occasionally assisted at the restaurant and now the catering business.
Becky said she cherishes the relationship with all the customers over the years and the employees.
“We’ve had employees come and go, but our front of the house staff were not just employees or co-workers,” wrote Becky in a letter to customers. “We were a family and still a family.”
As far as business, Becky said that if the Friday Lent specials are any indication, the future looks bright.
“We were really busy all day Friday with fish fry Lenten specials,” Becky said. “We were swamped throughout the day. We just want people to remember us.”
The Friday Lent specials, served from noon to 7 p.m., offer fried walleye with a choice of potato and soup, or beer-battered lake perch with a choice of potato and soup. They also offer a 10-piece fried shrimp dinner with a choice of potato and soup, and beer-battered cod with a choice of potato and soup during Lent.
The Ristuccis said it was that history and enjoyment of what they do that has them wanting to continue serving meals for the community.
“I’ve been in the family business for over 40 years,” Becky said. “We want to make sure to everyone that we are going to stay around.”
To order or for more information about the catered meals, call 708-974-4374 or 708-974-0509.