Country Squire has served its last meal
By Frank Abderholden fabderholden@stmedianetwork.com January 12, 2012 6:46PM
Former banquet chef, Michael Pope, of Third Lake, restaurant owner, Gus Govas, remove restaurant equipment from the now-closed Country Squire Restaurant in Grayslake, on Wednesday, January 11, 2012. Govas said, "We're gonna miss serving a good part of Lake County. It was a good thirty-six year run. There was a number of people who drove up with tearful eyes saying they were part of their family and their memories. It's been bittersweet." | Ruthie Hauge ~ Sun-Times Media. | Ruthie Hauge ~ Sun-Times Media
Squire’s COLORFUL HISTORY
The restaurant was first opened in 1954 by Martin Giesel after he bought it from then-Lake County State’s Attorney Robert Nelson, who had purchased it from the Sears family. Govas took over in 1977.
In July 1963, four masked bandits invaded the restaurant and locked the manager, his wife and child in a cooler and took $3,500. It was the second restaurant holdup in five weeks. The manager was able to move a panel to escape the cooler and call police.
In December 1963, Lake County Sheriff Charles Larson and his deputies shot three suspected burglars at the Country Squire. No one was killed, but pictures show shotgun pellet marks next to the stairs going to the second floor. The sheriff and his deputies were staking out the restaurant after it and George Diamond’s Steakhouse near Antioch had been burglarized.
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Updated: March 13, 2012 2:59PM
The Country Squire Restaurant in Grayslake, in the former Sears’ mansion, is ending a run of over 30 years with the iconic building. It has a date with the wrecking ball.
Workers were removing items Wednesday and Thursday with owner Gus Govas, 46, and his mother Crystal, 79, overseeing the operations.
“It’s an end of an era,” said Gus, “We’ve had people coming through the parking lot, and some people are in tears because it’s part of their family history.”
“We want to thank the people for a great run of 36 years. We are very fortunate,” he added.
And while people who have booked the banquet facilities for meetings, weddings or anniversaries will need to find a new venue, the Govas’ said everyone will be refunded their deposits within 15 days.
The building and nine acres sold and the closing was moved up, which is why they are vacating so suddenly. The 100-year-old Sears clock is going with them, as well as a lot of other memorabilia.
A spokeswoman for Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital confirmed Thursday the purchase of the 19133 E. Belvidere Road property, adjacent to the hospital’s Grayslake outpatient campus at 1275 E. Belvidere Road.
“The property was obtained as a long-term investment to offer the hospital the flexibility to meet the community’s need for additional health-care services in the future,” said Jane Griffin, NLFH vice president, marketing and physician services. “While the restaurant owners are closing their business, there is no immediate plan for the property. The hospital will be assessing use of the property in the coming months.”
There could be another Country Squire in the future somewhere in Lake County, but there are no immediate plan. “We plan on opening at another location in time,” Govas said.
While some of the items are being split among family members, others will end up at auction, said Govas.
The home used to belong to Wesley Sears, son of Richard Sears who started Sears, Roebuck & Co. The Sears summer home had 17 rooms, eight baths and four fireplaces. The dining room was turned into a lounge and the living room with handcarved beams was turned into the reception area. The library with wood paneling was turned into the library bar.
In 1985, a 500-seat, 11,500-square-foot banquet hall with a separate entrance was built. There was a back courtyard with statues, and the grounds had more than 10,000 tulips and daffodils.
Yvonne Johnson of Wadsworth learned her group, Women’s Connection, which usually has between 25 to 45 people, would not be able to hold its event Thursday at the restaurant. “We feel sad about it. There’s nothing like the Squire,” she said.
Their group had been meeting there for more than six years and members always enjoyed the gourmet lunch. “The Squire’s food was always a 9.5,” she said, adding she loved the gardens and gazebo in the back. “It’s a loss for us all,” she said.
George Hunter of Lake Bluff said his daughter, Ana, and future son-in-law, Artis Reaves, found themselves suddenly without a reception venue.
“But it looks like Kemper Lakes can do it and they don’t have to change the date,” he said. He is confident they will get their deposit back.
“I’ll miss it,” he said of the restaurant, which he has been to for banquets and Mother’s Day. “It just had a very nice comfortable surroundings.”
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