My in-laws had planned to take my wife out to Vonachen’s next Wednesday for my wife’s birthday. Fortunately, they made reservations. Unfortunately, Vonachens called today and said they’re closing Monday. So, if you want to enjoy Vonachens one last time, you have the weekend.
I’ve mentioned before how disappointed I am that they’re closing. My dad worked at Vonachen’s Junction (as it was then called) in the early ’60s. I remember going there with my parents many times growing up. I have many memories of dinner dates there when I was in my late teens and early twenties (including my most embarrassing date ever — when I forgot my wallet). My wife took me there for a surprise birthday dinner when I turned 30. My wife and kids and I will be dining there tonight for the last time.
I hope Junction Ventures can find a suitable, local replacement for the old place.
surprised me they stayed open this long…back on Sat, June 21st we arrived there only to find one other couple dining and they soon left. Later another couple arrived as we were leaving. I’ll always wonder if we got the best of the best prime rib that night or if they were holding it back for the “rush”!
CJ- I am sorry to burst your sentimental bubble….
VOP’s has had bad service and marginal food for a very long time- I am not surprised it is closing. Part of their problem was/is the owners were/are rarely, if ever, present. Great restaurants connect with the people they serve. The owners should have been there day in and day out making certain the food was great and people were well served.
VOP’s was somewhere between a chain and a locally owned place. We stopped going to VOPs more than 10 years ago. We also also stopped going to Alexander’s Steak House- come on- those restaurants were conceived in the 70’s and Peoria needs to grow up-get more sophisticated- good grief! It’s as if Peoria is in a time warp- and a bad one at that!
VOP Management could have provided outdoor seating. Peoria needs outdoor dining in the worst way. Chef Kevin, I can’t wait for you to expound on your many reasons why outdoor dining will not work in Peoria or to hear how it is just financially not feasible.
Chicago successfully does out door dining, as does St. Louis not to mention the many little hamlets in between. And please, what is with the “Beer Garden” concept. That experience is the most disgusting – ick! It is like sitting in an ash tray while you are trying to eat. Alas, we are not Chicago- no kidding- but do we have to continue to be the butt of jokes statewide?
Peoria- we can do better- and quite frankly we must do better to survive- unless of course you would prefer to see our taxes sky rocket as our population declines. Your choice…
Browse through Bon Appetite, Gourmet, Food, & wine, Cooks Tour etc. Apparently, Peoria’s culinary community has a long way to go before they can deliver good/great food and wonderful experiences. Fortunately for us, I am a rather good chef, , and when we need a break I have to say thank goodness for Sushi Gawa.
George get a clue beyond your insipid hatred for all things Peoria. The owners of Vonachen’s have an inherent problem managing restaurants effectively. Plain and simple. They failed at Sonoma Cucina in Bloomington, The Grill on Fulton, Rainwaters in East Peoria, the franchises of Famous Dave’s and now Vonachen’s. All within the last 10 years or so. I’m surprised Alexander’s survives. I know they never respected their employees. Some upper management thought employees were the biggest problem in operating a restaurant. A losing attitude. Especially wrong when that is expressed to employees. Employees are investments and revenue generators and not liabilities or burdens but mostly they are people deserving more respect and dignity than the pizza oven. But since the pizza oven never asks for raises, fair treatment or a more fair wage based on good performance……..
Boy, George, I guess you’re right. I should discard all those wonderful memories with my family and old friends since Vonachens no longer meets your stratospheric standards. I’ll bet you threw away all your kids’ yearbooks because they weren’t perfect bound.
With all due respect to George the Gourmet…
Where, exactly, in Peoria, do you find restaurants that are actually OWNED? You can go through the phone book and find pages upon pages of chain restaurants owned by restaurant management companies or franchise owners. Rarely are there any local restaurants, and even fewer of them are independent.
I’ll give you this one, however. Peoria seems to have an overabundance of independent, elitist, over-priced, a la carte establishments. And these are fine — if you’re going out and trying to impress someone. But these aren’t suitable for families, especially those with small children. VOP’s is (soon to be “was”). My oldest daughter has been going to VOP’s since she was an infant, and she’s very sad to see it close.
EB is completely correct: take care of your employees, and they’ll take care of your customers (who will, in turn, take care of their servers).
What Peoria needs is not more outdoor seating or sushi. What this area needs are more restaurants (especially local) where parents can take small children to get a good meal (preferably something besides chicken tenders) that doesn’t cost as much as an adult meal, and where a family of four can eat for a reasonable price.
George:
It isn’t what I think. If most local restaurants don’t offer it, there has to be a reason. Even most the chain restaurants do not. Maybe it is a pain the butt because of the city (I don’t know that for sure, but we know how the city can be sometimes), but I do know the city slaps extra dollars on your liquor license if you want outside dining. Maybe that is it. Maybe it is the health department…sometimes they have some really whacky rules. Maybe that is it. I know the Metro Centre wouldn’t let you do it for the longest time..I see now that Jalapenos does, but I’ve heard other shopping centers don’t want restaurants blocking the sidewalks with tables. Maybe thats it. Maybe they don’t want to hire extra staff to hang around just in case both inside and outside fill up. When I had my restaurant, the landlord wouldn’t allow it…didn’t make any difference if I wanted to provide it or not, so I never looked into it. I guess if you really want to know why Jim’s, French Toast, 2 Chez, Chef John’s, Rizzi’s, Basta, Ponte Vecchio, etc. don’t provide outside dining, call and ask them.
Martha thinks we need more family restaurants. And that is fine: I’m not to judge. However, I’m single and would rather hang out at the “overabundance of independent, elitist, over-priced, a la carte establishments” and wouldn’t mind a few more to frequent. Guess it all is from whose perspective you view things.
Chef Kevin — I’m not saying they shouldn’t exist at all. I’m just saying that most of the restaurants that have opened in the past few years have either been out of the price range of the average family or below-average in quality and above-average in price chain restaurants. Isn’t it possible to get something in between and have it be a success?
I have such great memories of this place. I took my kids there for years and celebrated their birthdays on the train. They loved it! It will be missed!
Whenever I went there for lunch it always seemed to have a decent lunch crowd. Only been once or twice for dinner though and I can’t recall how business was then.
Does George know everything?
Martha….if you’re looking for sushi, I would be surprised if you found anywhere that is better than Sushigawa.
And as far as taking your family out, we have always taken our family to Seven, Basta, Ponte Vecchio, 2 Chez, Chef Johns and others but with two restrictions: We try to go during the week and we get the earliest possible reservation we can. Just call the establishment and ask about bringing your families.
I hope someone else local takes over the place as well. It’s a unique location that would be a shame to have go to waste.
My husband worked there years ago, I spent many years in the 90s having lunch (the BEST French onion soup back in the day) and going away parties there when I worked on Pioneer Parkway, and my husband and I had our first date there.
I remember when I told one of my friends I was going on a date with this guy and he had made reservations for VOP, she suggested that it may have been for a train car table, which hadn’t even occurred to me and seemed a little too secluded for a first date. Turns out we dined in the main dining room and had a great time, and I’m sure a train car table would have worked out as well.
We had dinner at VOJ this past week; only six of us in the place at 6:00 p.m on a Tuesday night. Had great service and steaks, the manager came around and greeted us and checked on everything-have no complaints. Check out he eateries in the Heights if you want elegant dinners and atmosphere, there are four of them within two blocks of each other. Jims’ steakhous ddowntown is the only Peoria joint worth going to-what does the Chamber of Commerce have to say about that?
I heard that Alexis is going to have it
torn down and plans to build a new building
Well, if he does, I hope he donates the train cars to someplace like Wheels ‘O Time Museum. But I hope he doesn’t, considering they’ve become somewhat of a landmark in Peoria.
I heard a they are going to tear it down and build a Starbucks.
sorry, just kidding – I have no idea what they plan on doing.
I love the Oyster Bar in E.P. Great atmosphere and a good menu. I wish there was an upscale bar/grill restaurant in Peoria like it. Every time that I am there (even during the week) it is full. Has anyone heard when Sully’s place in the Heights is opening and what, if any, food he will be serving?
I had a great meal at Seven the other evening. Again, it was during the week and the majority of the tables were full. I have never had a bad meal at Jim’s Bistro and the staff there always seem very appreciative of your business. The roast chicken is great for the kids.
I think restaurants that serve quality food and offer some atmosphere do well in Peoria. I get the impression, though, that many Peorians don’t want to pay much to dine out. Plus, many people think the independent places are more costly. I typically do not frequent chain restaurants but went to Olive Garden recently. The food was o.k. but I thought it was pricey for what you got. I would much rather pay a couple more $$ and eat at one of the restaurants in the Heights.
I stopped by today for lunch. Had a fillet salad.
As our server mentioned, many people don’t use dressing since the salad is so flavorful.
Steve Shaw is the manager at Vonachens.
He is the Executive Vice President of Mercedes.
http://www.mercedesrestaurants.com/
I’m not sure if that makes him the owner, but he does have a large stake in things. He is there all the time and very friendly. Shaw has worked there for years.
I don’t know what George is talking about.
There is nothing original or spectacular about Sushi Gawa. They get the job done, but I wouldn’t say thank goodness for the place.
Thank goodness for Sushigawa.
Thank goodness for Pig ‘n Whistle.
This is sad news as I have many childhood memories from Vonachen’s. We did not eat out often so when my parents took us to Vonachen’s it was a special occasion. Vonachen’s provided a nice medium between the higher priced independents and watered down chains. If a Peoria institution like Vonachen’s cannot survive in that location I wonder what can.
I hope its replacement will be an independent or local chain and not something like Olive Garden. The last time I got stuck eating there my pasta was obviously microwaved.
Eggplant bosco,
Great word- Insipid- but didn’t you mean to write:
“…your hatred for all things insipid in Peoria” rather than “your insipid hatred for all things Peoria.”? Because I am not sure one can modify the word hatred using the word insipid defined as lacking qualities that excite, stimulate, or interest; dull. But love the word- it definitely sums up Peoria as it is today
Cj,
Yes, you are correct- I do set my expectations high; however, stratospheric may be a stretch. Certainly you don’t think preferring a clean, comfortable restaurant, which uses fresh ingredients combined with some imagination asking for the moon? Hope not. And remember I said we stopped going there about 10 years ago- VOP’s needed a change and management ignored the signs. I understand that the restaurant business is difficult, so why make it more difficult by remaining in a time warp.
High expectations can be had at all price points. I don’t want to smell yesterday’s grease or walk through sticky leftover beer spills. I want the wine selection to offer more than the average $6.00 grocery store fare and I prefer tablecloths. If there are no table cloths then at least the table tops should be better than Formica and they should be very clean (some of the local restaurants tables seem really dirty to me). I want my food made with fresh ingredients- not the latest frozen food ready-made entrees delivered by a truck or mayonnaise based salads made in some distribution kitchen.
I do not consider these specifications to be elitist or generating more cost. They are basic principles.
The school year books are fine the way they are delivered-I do not recall complaining about them. Although if given a choice of leather… oh, never mind.
Emtronics,
Since you are the self professed “know it all” (pulled from your profile on your own website) I will bow to you- yet, I will admit I have some firm opinions of what plagues Peoria. If people, especially natives, could see the city through the lens of a visitor and stop looking the other way we would solve many of our city problems.
Martha,
I am not drawn to over priced, contrived restaurants where the food lacks imagination or is glopped up with butter and cream. On the other hand, I don’t want to eat a house salad that is primarily ice berg lettuce with a few shredded carrots. I want fresh ingredients used in imaginative ways presented in a comfortable atmosphere that feels right regardless of how you are dressed. It doesn’t have to cost more to do things well and children should always be welcome. I too think children deserve more selection than just fried foods.
When you wrote:
“Peoria seems to have an overabundance of independent, elitist, over-priced, a la carte establishments.”
I am not aware we have an abundance of restaurants-please pass along the names – I’d love to try them! Remember we are a city of over 100,000 people and we should be able to support many more small neighborhood places.
Ian Schwartz,
I didn’t say Sushi Gawa was “original or spectacular” I like sushi and so far they haven’t screwed it up- at least they know how to refrigerate their food properly and they haven’t had any Health Department food inspection violations. They could improve the setting by relocating out of that insipid (Eggplant bosco’s word) strip mall on steroids. Again, an outdoor dining option would be good- sorry Chef Kevin.
I did a little research on the outdoor dining issue, since at least one other person seems interested in this sort of offering (George) and another suggested that both the weather in Peoria and the additional cost for such a permit are prohibitive and at least part of reason there isn’t much of an outdoor cafe scene in Peoria(Kevin).
I looked up the ordinances that govern sidewalk cafes in Peoria and Chicago – I don’t think anyone would argue that the winters are any longer down here. The basics of the ordinances line up pretty closely in a general way, insurance issues etc – although it is actually often MORE costly to get a permit in Chicago ($600 flat fee in Peoria, while 600 is the bare minimum in Chicago, and it goes up from there in Chicago depending on the size of the cafe). Additionally, Chicago has many more restrictions in terms of aesthetics, greenery, distances from the curb for table placement, etc.
Another interesting note – the sidewalk cafe season in Peoria runs from May to October. In Chicago, it runs from March 1 to December 1 (recently extended from November 1). As crazy as this might sounds to some, it’s nice to be able to frequent these places when spring comes early, even if only for a few days, or a mild autumm lasts longer than usual. In any event, this sort of schedule flies in the face of an argument that this part of the midwest is not suitable for outdoor dining, and says much about its popularity and, most likely, profitability.
Finally, there were about 2 dozen such cafes that opened when Chicago passed this ordinance in 1984. There are now 845 – and counting.
The latest word is that Alexis is going to tear down the restaurant and replace it with something else and that he is going to move the rail cars to another part of the property and use them for something else.