Ellwood Steak and Fish House expected to open within a month

DeKALB – With construction and design work winding down at Ellwood Steak and Fish House, developer John Pappas says he is ready to train his new staff and open the restaurant in a few weeks.

Pappas announced a plan to open the business, a combination of a bar and restaurant at 2219 Sycamore Road in DeKalb, in part of the new retail center he built on the former Small’s Furniture City site.

Pappas said he finished most of the construction including the kitchen and some of the interior over the past three months. Although he has yet to settle on an opening date, Pappas said he plans to open the steakhouse in late March or early April.

"We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but a month is plenty of time, and we are going to be ready for the challenge," he said. "We can't wait."

The Ellwood Steak and Fish House takes up 4,200 square feet in the retail center, or about a third of the building. The space will house a restaurant and a bar separated by the entrance. As part of the decor, Pappas said the restaurant will have an 1879 historic lounge that will feature some pieces of DeKalb's history.

"We are going to stand alone on our quality, atmosphere, pricing and presentation," he said.

Pappas received $432,900 in tax increment financing incentives from the City of DeKalb for the $4.2 million development. He has more than six years left to repay the city’s investment through sales and property tax revenues generated by the development.

As part of the agreement, he razed the former Small's Furtniture to make way for the 12,950-square-foot strip shopping center. American Mattress, the first tenant, opened in November. But sales tax revenue from American Mattress does not count toward reimbursing the city because it's not listed as one of the designated uses in the contract between Pappas and the city, according to the May 2013 development agreement.

After living in DeKalb for 35 years, Pappas said the restaurant was his way to give back to the community.

“I think the town lacks this type of a restaurant that's really not available anywhere, and people do drive out of town for fine dining," he said.

The restaurant will not only fill the void, but will also provide jobs for the community, Pappas said.

Fawn Hansen, the restaurant's general manager, said she already has hired about 75 percent of the staff but is still looking for bartenders, servers, bussers and hosts.

"I'm very excited about it," she said about filling the positions.

With menu choices that feature Mediterranean cuisine and tradtional Midwestern steaks, Pappas said he expects "a great outcome" from his new business.

"There's no doubt if we are going to be successful," he said. "I just hope we are going to have enough room to handle the customers."

The restaurant can be found online at http://ellwoodsteakandfishhouse.com/.