A Truly Charming Local Restaurant Grows Up with the Community

Jason Panagos, who took over the Country Charm Restaurant from his parents several years ago, says he has no plans on going anywhere. This is where he grew up, and this is where he and his wife Jennifer intend to raise their children.

In fact, Panagos has even bigger plans for Country Charm, which his parents opened in October of 1984 and has since become a New Lenox favorite.

The restaurant already underwent expansion in the fall of 2008, when a new kitchen, new bathrooms and expanded seating were added. Now, Panagos plans on covering the outdoor seating area this summer. He expects work to begin as soon as this month. Citing only four months' worth of usefulness for the space currently—and only when it's not raining—Panagos wants to be able to use the space year-round to seat an additional 40 restaurant guests.

Once enclosed, that part of the restaurant can be used for private events during the week, and it will also help alleviate some of the long waits for a table that come virtually every Saturday and Sunday morning.

Such growth is nothing new to Panagos. He remembers that when he was 12 and working for his parents at the restaurant, “there was nothing out here, nothing–nothing but corn and soybeans as far as the eye could see.”

Years later, after attending Eastern Illinois University and getting his MBA from DePaul, he returned to New Lenox.

“I just wanted to make sure I had a good business education background so I knew what I was doing from a business standpoint when I came into the business,” he explains. “Basics are what's most important ... but you also need to have a good business background to survive nowadays.

“The old days of just the ‘Ma and Pa’ shopkeeper, unfortunately, with all the big businesses with their deep pockets coming into every suburb in America, the independents are having a tough time surviving, so you have to have an education so you understand how to survive.”

And he’s done more than survive, as evidenced by the restaurant’s second expansion and renovation in less than three years. He attributes that to basic business sense.

“I like to think that we have sort of a family atmosphere ... people feel like they're at home,” Panagos says of Country Charm’s recipe for success. “The food is nothing fancy, but it's comfort food. It's good, working people that are just looking for a good place to go to for good food and good prices, nothing extravagant or fancy. So I think in that respect, we're a good fit for the town.”

Do a Google search of “country charm new lenox” and you’ll find mostly 4 out of 5 stars–with several 5-star ratings—among the dozens of personal reviews, with comments too positive and gushing to have come from an employee or even an owner.

A Challenging Economy

Panagos knows that quality and value win out during tough times. He has witnessed first-hand the effects of economic challenges facing many people in recent years.

“The biggest thing that I've noticed, because there's not nearly as much residential construction going on, there's not as many tradesmen out there working,” he says. “That's where I've really noticed a difference in my business—I just don't see as many guys stopping in for lunch like that who at one time, when things were booming, were out there doing a lot of work. I hope that recovers soon. There's a lot of good people out there that are looking for work.”

Meanwhile, he continues to find success by sticking with the basics.

“My philosophy is if you're delivering on everything else, if you're a clean place with good food and good service, you'll survive. People will still come out and visit you.”

While he has considered opening the restaurant a few evenings during the week, for now he’s content with the current breakfast and lunch hours. Part of the reason is so that employees, Panagos included, have the evening to spend with family and to have a personal life.

It’s clear that family and community are important to Panagos, who says New Lenox is a great place to run a business—and raise a family.

“I grew up here, I live here now with my wife and kids. It's a great town, great people,” he says. “I love running a business here, and my favorite part of running the business is meeting and talking to the people that live here. I never even thought about living anywhere else ... I love it here.”

Looking Ahead

While Panagos isn't looking forward to the congestion that will come with construction not only on Route 30 but also I-80, he believes it will all be worth it for his restaurant, which is located right next to Lincoln-Way Central High School.

“I'm gonna lose the entire front row of parking, which is why, when I did the expansion in '08, I put in more parking in the back,” he says. “It’s supposed to be a two-year project, so it'll be interesting to see how things go. It's gonna be beautiful when it's done. We're looking forward to that. It's only good for business once you have access on a four-lane highway. It's been long overdue. Should've been done 10 years ago.”

And someday, he can hand the restaurant over to his children, right?

“My attitude is very similar to what my father's was with me, which he did not push me into the business—I chose it,” he says. “My attitude with my kids is that I am going to do everything I can to give them the best education I can possibly afford to give them, and then with that as a foundation, they can do whatever their hearts desire.”

In the meantime, he continues to hope for more residential and commercial development in New Lenox to bring in not only the tradesmen but also professionals who might live here but are currently leaving town every day for work.

“I see most people on the weekends,” he says.

Country Charm Restaurant

• Address: 101 Lincolnway Drive
• Phone: (815) 485-3996
• Hours: Open daily, 5:30 a.m.-3 p.m.