By Trent Modglin

Di Marko’s All-Day Cafe
120 Main Street in Park Ridge
DiMarkoCoffee.com

Background: Dimitri Markos was meant to own his own coffee shop. Just ask him yourself. “All my life I’ve been working in this industry, since I was 16 and mopping the floor. God sent me to do this,” he says with a smile. “I worked in the best coffee place in Athens (Greece), and then the best hotel and best coffee place in Chicago, so I feel I was put on Earth for this. This is what I was meant to do.” Markos, who also owns a limousine company in Chicago, aimed for a blend of great flavor, warm hospitality, and building a sense of belonging.

What to expect: At the core of Di Marko’s Café is a blend of Greek and Italian hospitality, both in terms of service and presentation. The menu is more robust than anticipated, with everything from lattes and smoothies to crepes, muffins, bagels, paninis, even loaded Mediterranean mezze boards.

It’s a beautifully lit, comfortable and stylish space. “Our designer brought a classic Italian-French style to create the kind of place our parents would drink coffee at in Europe,” Dimitri says.

Coffee is a very big thing for us in Greece. Even sitting down to have one coffee means a lot. No one will ever come and rush you away or push you to order anything else. This is your place, so come and sit and enjoy.” — Dimitri Markos

Fun fact: Need a late-night spot to get some work done or catch up with a friend? Di Marko stays open till 10 p.m. seven nights a week.

Observation: There’s no denying the friendly, relaxed European vibe here, and the late hours play into that for sure. “Coffee is a very big thing for us in Greece,” Dimitri says. “Even sitting down to have one coffee means a lot. No one will ever come and rush you away or push you to order anything else. This is your place, so come and sit and enjoy.”

Park Ridge Coin & Collectibles
1208 S. Fairview in Park Ridge
ParkRidgeCoin.etsy.com

Background: “I got into coins through my husband, Paul, who has been a collector for 40 years,” says co-owner Jennifer Torbick. “When we first met, he would take me to shows and events, and I learned so much from him. I started accumulating my own collection over the last five years and always wanted to be a business owner, so when we had a great opportunity to open up in Park Ridge, we made the move.”

They specialize in silver art bars, but there are plenty of coins, sports cards, vintage jewelry and other unique collectibles to check out as well.

What to expect: Whether you are looking to sell a family member’s estate coin and jewelry collection or considering buying silver or gold, Jennifer promises the best service and price. They specialize in silver art bars, but there are plenty of coins, sports cards, vintage jewelry and other unique collectibles to check out as well.

Fun fact: Jennifer and her husband have two sons who are very much into Pokemon, so keep an eye on their social media accounts for upcoming Pokemon trade nights, where you can bring your binders and get ready to trade (and have the opportunity to buy new packs on site).

Observation: For a cozy store tucked off Devon Avenue in South Park, there are a lot of offerings here, and the early customer reviews — citing honesty, knowledge, selection and a straightforward approach — are through the roof.

Hatty’s Club opens in the Rosemont Ice Arena

We visited this sparkling new facility earlier this fall and came away impressed — both by the stylish Hatty’s Club bar and restaurant, which is part of the Big Fish Hospitality Group, and the versatile Rosemont Ice Arena, which is home to the Chicago Wolves’ practice facility as well as numerous youth hockey leagues. Insider’s tip: Try the buffalo chicken sandwich and thank us later. 7115 Barry Street in Rosemont.

Kouklas Greek Eatery photo by Isabelli Partners

Kouklas Greek Eatery opens Dec. 30

Renowned chef and James Beard Award winner Jimmy Bannos, Jr., who happens to be a Maine South graduate who honed his skills under restaurant industry titans like Emeril Lagasse and Mario Batali before running the acclaimed Purple Pig in Chicago, is set to open a contemporary new restaurant that celebrates the vibrant flavors and traditions of Greece with a fresh, farm-to-plate approach.

Kouklas is a contemporary new restaurant that celebrates the vibrant flavors and traditions of Greece with a fresh, farm-to-plate approach.

In case you’ve somehow missed the progress of the year-long gut rehab of the old Amici Ristorante (7620 N. Milwaukee) in Niles, they’ll have seating for 150 in the dining room, 18 at the bar and 100 in an all-season terrace. Kouklas is expected to open Tuesday, Dec. 30.

Chubby Cattle coming to Rosemont in 2026
Tableside barbecuing of all-you-can-eat Wagyu beef is coming to Rosemont next summer. Chubby Cattle BBQ, a restaurant chain that launched in Los Angeles in 2023 and is seeing nationwide expansion, will be opening a 9,600-square-foot restaurant at 5490 Park Place in Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park, taking over the first floor of what was previously a Harley Davidson dealership.

The restaurant has two other Illinois locations — in Chicago’s Chinatown and Schaumburg’s Woodfield Mall.

Diners will be able to choose from a trio of all-you-can-eat menus priced between $55 and $85 per person that feature American, Australian and Japanese Wagyu, as well as a variety of seafood, unique sushi, vegetables and other hot dishes.