Historic Elburn restaurant to close

BLACKBERRY TOWNSHIP – For nearly nine decades, folks from across Kane County have bellied up to the bar at the Blackberry, to enjoy a burger and raise a glass with friends and neighbors after a long week of work.

That won’t be the case for much longer.

The Blackberry Bar & Grill, which opened in the 1930s at the corner of Rt. 47 and Main Street near Elburn, soon will be just a memory. The state has claimed eminent domain over its location, as part of its renovation and widening of Rt. 47. Also identified for aquisition are several residential parcels and a portion of property currently owned by the Fisherman's Inn, reportedly used currently for parking.

Formerly known as the Blackberry Inn, the restaurant/bar, originally was housed in a two-story stone structure that looked more like a mini castle than a place to stop in for a cold drink or a bite to eat. That all tragically changed in the winter of 1962, when a trucker carrying a dangerous mix of gasoline and fuel oil en route to Woodstock crashed on Rt. 47 at Main St. and burned the Blackberry Inn down to the ground, killing the driver and three others, including Charles Paul Bowne, then owner of the Blackberry Inn. It was rebuilt in 1963.

And while the Blackberry’s final day of operation isn’t known at this time (a court date to determine details is set for Aug. 28.) it won’t be rebuilt again, or relocated, owner Sandy Plante affirms.

“We most likely won’t pick a [closing] date until after that court date, said Plante. “So for now it’s just a day to day thing until we find out more.”

The long-time staff and regular patrons at the Blackberry are taking the news hard.

“It’s something that’s been talked about, but I thought we’d at least have a couple more years,” said Dawn Faber, who has managed Blackberry for 19 years. “I think I’m still in denial. It’s like family. I feel like I’m losing my home. That’s how I feel. Everyone keeps taking about it and everyday I feel like I’m at a funeral. Yes, it’s going away and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Bartender Bob Regan has been pouring drinks and making new friends for over 20 years at Blackberry and still is trying to accept the fact that the end is near.

“I knew this would happen someday, but I thought we had more time,” he said. “We’re all kind of in shock over it. I’ve always wanted to go into business on my own, and I tried to buy this before from (Plante). It’s kind of a lit a fire under my (butt) now and I’d like to open up something like this.”

Aurora resident Jerry Guthke and Elburn resident Terry Strong first frequented Blackberry’s when smoking indoors was common and legal, people were regularly ordering Harvey Wallbangers and no one had yet to hear of microbrews.

“I’ve been coming here off and on since the mid ‘70s,” Guthke said while enjoying a beer on the patio last Saturday night. “I don’t know where I’m going to go.”

Strong remembers first walking into Blackberry around the same time he became of legal age to drink.

“There’s a lot of history here and I have a lot of good memories,” he said. “I’m going to miss it.”

Blackberry’s convenient location just off I-88 makes it a popular destination for bikers, those looking to meet for drinks after work, golfers looking for a ‘19th hole’ that also serves excellent food, families looking to go out for a casual lunch or dinner. Chicken Dinner Wednesday and Fish Fry Friday have become staples for many patrons.

“I’ve seen people come in all the way from Dixon for our reuben and from Elmhurst for fried chicken on Wednesdays,” Regan said. “It’s the craziest. And I’ve met some great people here and they’re really upset because they love it here. This is their home and now they’re not sure where they’re going to go.”

It’s more than food and drink though – it’s also the great company.

“I’ve met some amazing people here,” Regan said. “I’ve gone on vacation, to Mexico and Aruba with people who I met here and they became my good friends. I’m going to miss that so it’s really sad.”

Chronicle reporter Brenda Schory contributed to this report.