After less than a year in business, Stanley’s Restaurant and Tavern in West Dundee has shut its doors.
Scott Stanley, who also owns the Stanley's Restaurant & Ale House in his hometown of South Elgin, plans to refocus his efforts on that location.
"Our best investment is South Elgin," he said. "(The site) has struggled a bit without me at the helm. Maybe it’s a hometown thing?”
Just last month, Stanley received West Dundee Village Board approval to add five gaming machines to his 629 S. 8th St. business. The move was met with backlash by some area residents, who took to a local community Facebook page to share their opinions.
In several back-and-forth exchanges, Stanley defended his decision to seek out the license.
In one post he said, “I didn't care for these years ago until my guests started going to other bars. I had to adapt but do it better. What I don’t like is the cafes, they have overrun some communities and taken money from small business owners.”
In another response, he said, “You know I'm just a guy trying to make a living. Spoil the grandkids and do some fishing once in a while ... I'm just going to say it ... this group of full of a bunch of negative people. I don’t know why I try? You don’t want me in town? Just say so, I can take my tax money elsewhere and your building can sit empty for another two years. I know I shouldn't even have replied to this but every post I take a beating ... thanks for all the support of a small businessman.”
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Stanley said he saw a drop in revenue after the gaming slots were installed.
“Coincidence? I don’t know,” he said.
He opened his South Elgin restaurant about eight years ago and West Dundee's location, formerly home to former Bootleggers Kitchen and Pub, last fall.
“West Dundee may not have been the right place for our concept,” Stanley said. “We do so well in South Elgin.”
According to a sign posted at the West Dundee site, all coupons, certificates or other marketing material can be redeemed at Stanley's Restaurant & Ale House, 335 N. McLean Blvd., South Elgin.
For Stanley, the closure is bittersweet.
"I know I will miss some awesome regulars and some great employees,” he said. “I’m sure everyone will have an opinion of what went wrong but 40 years in the business I know we did our best. Many never step out and try. We did.”