Curator’s Cafe moving to American Legion hall in Joliet

The Curator’s Cafe is moving – not closing – and it’s even expanding, owner Tom Grotovsky said.

Grotovsky on Tuesday closed the Essington Road location in Joliet, where he has done business for more than 11 years, all but one of those as a Great American Bagel franchisee.

“Everybody still knows me as a bagel guy a year after I’m not the bagel guy,” Grotovsky said.

He hopes to expand on the new concept he created when opening The Curator’s Cafe in January 2024.

The cafe combines local art with coffee and food.

Local photographer and painter Deanna Gibson holds a painting at The Curator's Cafe in Joliet on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Gibson will create art during the Joliet Symphony Orchestra’s “Pictures” performance on Saturday and Sunday. — Local photographer and painter Deanna Gibson holds a painting at The Curator's Cafe during an event in April. (Denise Unland)

At some point in January, Grotovsky expects to reopen The Curator’s Cafe at American Legion Post 1080, located at Infantry Drive and Ingalls Road.

He also will reopen an American Legion kitchen that has been closed for two years but previously served up meals for both Legion members and the public.

“I figure it’s really a great opportunity,” Grotovsky said. “I’m looking forward to working with those guys.”

Grotovsky said he was “very honored” that the American Legion wanted him to restart the food service at its post. At the same time, the American Legion will provide Grotovsky with something he has not had at his Essington Road location: a real kitchen.

His Essington Road location was set up as a bagel bakery and doesn’t have some of the basic equipment needed for the restaurant he is trying to develop.

Tom Grotovsky, owner of The curator's Cafe in Joliet (right) holds up an art piece that Ted Overcash of Joliet (left) created with a sterling silver pencil. — Tom Grotovsky, owner of The Curator's Cafe in Joliet (right), holds up an art piece that Ted Overcash of Joliet (left) created with a sterling silver pencil. (Denise Unland)

“I never had a stove where I could fry eggs,” he said.

The American Legion hall was remodeled and has a kitchen with new equipment that Grotovsky looks forward to using.

“I’m expanding, actually,” he said, noting that the American Legion hall has seating for 150 for banquets, although Grotovsky acknowledged he will not need that much space for the reinvented Curator’s Cafe.

But Grotovsky does plan to keep regular business hours for The Curator’s Cafe at the new location while also serving a banquet business at the hall.

He will have space to display local art, as he has done at The Curator’s Cafe.

“It’s going to be open to the public, and we’re going to be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday,” Grotovsky said.