Village approves addition to La Dolce Vita

LEMONT – La Dolce Vita, 107 Stephen St., will construct an addition on back of the restaurant that should improve wait times for food.

The Lemont Village Board approved the addition during its July 27 meeting.

Because the addition will cause the building to take up more space on its lot than is allowed in Downtown District property, the project needed permission from the village before it could be constructed.

The addition will be about 812 square feet on the west end of the building, off of Talcott Avenue and next to an alley.

With the two-story addition, the restaurant will be able to expand its kitchen area and add an elevator.

La Dolce Vita owner Michael Martin said the addition to the building should help with the proficiency of the restaurant.

He said the restaurant prepares all of its dishes fresh, which can take time.

"If I look at all the complaints that I have, it's about [the wait time during] the rush hour between 6 and 8 p.m.," he said.

He said a larger kitchen will help the cooks more quickly prepare dishes, as well as create a more comfortable work environment for the cooks by improving ventilation.

The elevator will allow for easier access to the second floor. The restaurant currently only has a narrow staircase.

The building is classified as part of the village's historic central business district.

Adding the extension to the building will cause the building to take up 93.5 percent of the lot, which exceeds the 80 percent maximum for buildings in that district.

However, the village staff said the addition to the building has precedent, as many of the surrounding buildings already exceed the 80 percent lot coverage maximum.

Martin said the addition will cost about $500,000 and he expects it to be completed by Easter.

"I'm absolutely after trying to [give] the customer a better dining experience," he said.