Lemont trustee's restaurant PC's Pancake Cafe to close

LEMONT – PC's Pancake Cafe, 1264 State St., Lemont, will close on June 23, according to a post on its Facebook page.

The restaurant was purchased in 2006 by Paul Chialdikas, who was elected to the Lemont Village Board in 2009.

"The business has not been what it used to be," Chialdikas said "There's nobody to blame. We're all victims of this economy."

Chialdikas said while owning the restaurant, he has enjoyed the people he was able to meet and experiences he was able to share with them.

While the restaurant also served as a way for him to communicate with constituents, he said the restaurant was more of a place for enjoyment than politics.

"People respected me for that," he said. "And for that I was happy."

Regular customer Aloha Jessen of Lemont said the loss of the restaurant would leave a void as it was the only sit-down breakfast place near her.

"It was a nice meeting place," she said. "Paul made it very comfortable. It's the only diner in Lemont we really enjoy."

Vikki Knasiak has been a waitress at the restaurant since it opened and was heartbroken when she heard it was closing. She considers her coworkers and regular customers like family.

"I've already cried twice today," she said.

The restaurant was opened in 1999 by NBC Chicago meteorologist Andy Avalos.

For more information, visit pcpancakecafe.com.