Tropical-themed restaurant to open in downtown Yorkville

YORKVILLE – Downtown Yorkville is about to get a little more tropical with one new business coming in.

Yorkville business officials confirmed "Paradise Cove 220," a tropical island themed restaurant and bar owned by Yorkville residents Donna Wood and Irma Castellanos, will occupy the former Capitano Deli and Sweets space at 220 S. Bridge St. in the city's downtown area.

Wood, who owned Captain's Cove Bar and Grill in Ottawa, said she had been at the location near Starved Rock for more than 20 years and has decades of restaurateur experience on top of that. She said she and Castellanos put the Ottawa location up for sale, with an offer pending, because they wanted to look for something closer to home.

“We thought It would work out good for what we wanted to do,” Wood said.

Wood said Lynn Dubajic, the city's economic development consultant, referred her to the building space after she originally reached out to Dubajic about available spaces in the city for the restaurant concept she was envisioning.

“I’ve never bought anything so fast in my life,” Wood said with a chuckle.

Dubajic said the initial conversation happened on Aug. 6 and both sides' brokers connected thereafter. She said the quick deal came to a close after the owners closed on the property on Aug. 28.

"It literally came together in days and closed in weeks," Dubajic said.

Wood said her restaurants, whether they were in Ottawa or Marco Island in Florida, always have had the same theme. Since there is limited food storage and refrigeration in the space, she said, the food entrees will be a little lighter than the current menu items in the Ottawa restaurant and the focus will be on fast and easy lunches.

If anyone is familiar with the old place in Ottawa, Wood said, the restaurant also will definitely include a bar with tropical drinks and a lot of the other similar fare with Captain’s Cove.

Dubajic said in her report to the city's economic development committee that more information about the restaurant, including specific menu items, will be available soon.

Dubajic said in the report the restaurant is also scheduled to open this fall. Wood said she is trying for a mid-October opening for the new restaurant, depending on what happens with the liquor license application process through the city.

Wood said she is really looking forward to being in Yorkville and part of the downtown renovation that's currently in progress.

"And it’s going to be really nice to have a 5 minute commute and not 55 minutes, that’s all I can say,” Wood said with a laugh.

Dubajic said she's excited about the new business coming in, especially with Wood's experience behind it.

"I think she's going to do a fabulous job," Dubajic said.

• This story, originally published early September 2019, has been updated February 2020 to include the link of the restaurant's website.