LA Cafe Plans to Reopen Have Gone Up in Smoke: Mattina Café Takes Over
After LA Cafe Restaurant in New Lenox burned down in January 2012, the owner had vowed to reopen. But now it seems his plans have gone up in smoke too.
LA Café Restaurant, the popular Mexican eatery that burned down in an early morning fire in January 2012, will not reopen. Despite several announcements to the contrary, architectural drawings and more, it seems that the owner's plans have gone up in smoke too.
Only three months ago, Marc Angel, the owner of the Mexican eatery, was looking forward to a grand reopening in the spring. Frankfort's Phoenix Restoration Co., 195 Industry Ave., was coordinating the reconstruction project and Olivieri Architects, 750 Center Road, had designed the building.
The price tag for construction was expected to range from $1-to-$1.5 million, said John Olivieri after a July Village Board meeting where he introduced plans.
Today, Deb Engert, the owner of the retail strip development, which features a handful of shops, including Fantastic Sam's and the Irish Pig Restaurant in the 200 block of E. Route 30, revealed that LA Café would not be reopening as planned.
Instead, Mattina Café, currently located at 426 E. Lincoln Highway, will be moving six blocks west and taking over. Mattina, a popular breakfast and lunch spot, is expected to open its doors in April or May, said Engert.
Neither Angel nor the owners of Mattina Café have yet responded to telephone calls from Patch.
Get news alerts and Facebook updates from these Lincoln-Way Patch sites:
In This article
-
-
-
Olivieri Brothers
750 Center Rd, Frankfort, IL -
Fantastic Sams
280 E Haven Ave, New Lenox, IL -
The Irish Pig BBQ
280 E. Haven Rd, New Lenox, IL -
Mattina Cafe
426 E Lincoln Hwy, New Lenox, IL
-
Ann C. Piasecki
Joined Patch Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Michael Mattson
5:24 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
NO!!!!!!!!!
Brian
4:27 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
YES!!!!!!!!!!
Dana Knight
5:58 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
Does this mean breakfast will now be $40 instead of $30? And will the service get any better? Matina cafe is overrated and the staff is horrific
JaB
6:00 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
That's a shame. Especially since New Lenox is still lagging woefully behind on any diverse, sit-down type eateries. Burrito Loco is okay, but it's no LA Cafe. The new location could help Mattina's though. For me their biggest shortcoming at the present location is lack of adequate parking. Unfortunately, the new location will not improve that situation and may hurt the other businesses at least until Mattina's closes each day after the lunch hour. Or maybe Mattina's may be going full menu?
Bygtrble
6:04 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
That is awful news! This is one of our ALL time favorite places...Breakfast, lunch or dinner!! :( Sorry to hear this!!
Redhead
6:18 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
LA Cafe was one place that my whole family could agree on. I am so sorry to hear about this. We have been anxiously awaiting their return. Mattina's is too expensive and there have been errors in our orders every time we have been there.
Mandy
6:26 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
We love Mattina! I hope they start serving dinner! Angie is the best waitress! They are a class act in there! Good food, too!
gary
10:43 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
Angie is the best. My wife even has the hots for her.
Crystal Jensen
6:33 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
I'll just be happy when the reconstruction is finished. I live in the apartments adjacent to that strip mall and the construction has been going on 6-7 days a week, beginning at the crack of dawn for months now. The constant noise has been grating and wakes up myself and my daughter when we don't need to be awake, especially on weekends.
Tom
7:37 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
LA Cafe' should go and buy the old El Cortez on wolf rd and rt 6. perfit for them
Michelle Stukel
4:04 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
I hope the cause of this is disclosed. Someone needs to be held accountable for this. Support your local business NEW LENOX!
CCW
7:18 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Yeah, we should shove bamboo shoots under their fingernails too. Someone has to pay for not reopening another crappy restaurant with crappy food. Get the torches and the pitchforks!!
Kim
10:14 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
How is Mattina not a local business but LA Cafe is? Not sure how someone can be "held accountable" either. I didn't see people picketing outside LA Cafe demanding that they close for good. I don't think this is some covert operation to bring a restaurant down.
Brian
4:28 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
LA Cafe was a dive! Could eat better food at Taco Bell down the street !
lala
5:32 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
LA Cafe opened a place in Manhattan months ago.
Brian
6:35 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Opened a place in Manhattan gives them more choice of road kill .
crd
7:09 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
There is a plce in manhattan but its not la cafe! I agree with the post above they should by the old el cortez!
Amanda Bowl
7:26 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The LA Cafe in Mokena at LaGrange and 195th St. is really good. Started going there when New Lenox burned down.
hazelgreen
7:49 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Ick, don't get the appeal of Mattina Cafe. I have been there twice and was underwhelmed. Mattina is overrated and overpriced, no thanks.
Phil Zaczek
9:05 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Awwwwwwwwww!
KrisM
9:53 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The beauty of sites like the Patch is everyone becomes a critic and complains about every little thing. Maybe some of these people that always complain about the local restaurants will actually put their money where their mouth is and open a restaurant.
Brian
10:49 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Last time i ate at La Cafe i think i got a mouse leg stuck in my upper gum of my mouth.
gary
10:45 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
When a server brings a $65 bill for a couple burgers and beers, then yes, we do have a right to be critical.
May of these establishments act like they are doing a favor for taking our money.
James Madison
10:44 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Marc from LA Cafe: move into the old CharlieHorse. Perfect for LA, plenty of outdoor space, big bar, room for bands, and you can screen off the north side for banquets. The old spot was too hard to turn left out of, anyway.
Lots of whiners about quality of food, as if we have more than enough choices in New Lenox. We need all the options we can get!
Brian
10:50 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Last time i ate at La Cafe i think i got a mouse leg stuck in my upper gum of my mouth.
John Petrosky
9:28 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
We DO have several *great* options in New Lenox -- too bad that IMHO, Mattina Cafe isn't one of them. Ate there once and that was all it took: bad food, terrible service and no apologies by owner/manager for either when I complained in person. La Cafe, on the other hand? THEY *should* be back!
GMC
11:41 am on Monday, March 18, 2013
Mattina Cafe will finally have more room for seating & less people standing. Dino &
the entire staff, have made it a pleasant & a tasteful experience here.
The Oceans' French Toast is my Fav! Soup is Outstanding too! Some people are stuck in a country dinning experience, but I like the Itialian atmosphere too!