Pequod's Deal Falls Through; Land on Lehigh Vacant in Morton Grove

A plan had been introduced at a February 2011 village board meeting for Jackson to purchase the land, which is in a Tax Increment Financing District, for $346,000, and for the village to buy the 8522 Fernald property for $455,000.

Earlier: Pequod's Orders Up Extra-Large Expansion (March 1, 2011)

The plans called for Jackson to build a 5,000 square foot pizzeria, with additional spaces for two other stores, possibly a donut shop and a dry cleaner.

That arrangement was put on hold through the economic downturn, but the statement said it was revived this summer and building permits were approved in September.

Jackson started getting feedback from 90 percent of his customers saying they preferred the historic Fernald location, and scrapped plans to move, according to the statement. 

The building on Fernald was constructed in the late 1890s and was the home of Scott’s Coffee Shop in the 1950s and the Golden Dinner Bell Restaurant in the 1960s, the village said. Pequod's was founded by Burt Katz, the owner of Burt's Place, in the 1970s, and he sold the restaurant to Jackson in 1986.

Morton Grove Mayor DiMaria thanked Jackson for continuing to be a valued part of the Morton Grove community and expressed enthusiasm about the renewed interest from developers and restaurateurs about the train station location.  

“I have every confidence that this will be a win-win” DiMaria said. “Pequod’s will continue to draw people to the area and we will get additional restaurants and attractions for our residents and visitors.”

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