Restauranteur Bob Karas just can’t sit still.
Karas, the owner of the Karas Restaurant Group which owns and operates the Village Squire and Rookies restaurant chains as well as Old Republic in Elgin and Alexander’s Cafe in St. Charles and Elgin, continues to pursue a growth strategy that seems endless.
Having opened up new three new Rookies locations in the last couple of years, one of which involved taking over the RocHaus theatre in West Dundee to create an entirely new Rookies concept – a working music venue – and having just celebrated the 50th anniversary of the venerable flagship of the Village Squire chain, West Dundee, Karas is launching yet another venue to add to his burgeoning empire: Squire Ale House in Campton Hills.
The new venue has been in the works since Karas purchased the old The Lodge property a couple of years ago. The building had been vacant for years, but Karas saw the potential.
As the name implies, Squire Ale House will be something of a departure from his traditional Village Squire locations. While retaining many of the elements that have made the original brand so successful (“Yes, we will have smores!!” Karas insists), the new location will be what Karas describes as “a tavern,” with a combination of home-grown, standard and craft brews and a menu including burgers, ribs and the Village Squire’s famous broasted chicken. Bringing back The Lodge’s popular rotisseire chicken is also part of the plan.
“We are excited to bring our new Squire concept to Campton Hills,” Karas says while reiterating that the new venue will indeed have smores and the ubiquitous mai-tai’s so popular in both his Village Squire and Rookies venues.
Squire Ale House will also offer live music nightly, a newly-created outdoor patio and a gaming room.
According to Karas, the restaurant is expecting to open in late October or early November.
