One night, Kathy Crelly had a dream. Since she and her husband Bryan were busy preparing to open their latest restaurant, Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill, she had a lot on her mind. In her dream, she was standing at the corner of Eastwood and Rockwell, just outside their new restaurant, when she encountered a tall, older gentleman. He immediately introduced himself. "Hello, I'm Ira. What are you doing?" he asked. She explained that she and her husband were opening a new restaurant in Chicago after moving from Dallas. When he said that he owned a restaurant, too, in Missouri, Kathy awoke. The dream's vividness left such an impression that she told the story to several family members. It was then that she found out her great-grandfather—a man she had never met or heard about—was a tall, balding man who owned restaurants in St. Louis and Oklahoma City. Today, his photo hangs on the back wall at Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill, where he symbolically watches over the restaurant.
It was an auspicious, if spooky, start for the restaurant. Like Ira, Kathy and Bryan are no strangers to the restaurant business. In fact, they even met in a restaurant. (They first met at a Dallas establishment where Bryan was tending bar, back in the days before he became an owner.) Together, they had been partners in and had run three successful restaurants in Dallas, Texas before they arrived in Chicago. Of the three, the most famous was the Uptown Bar & Grill, which held the honor of "The Best Burger in Dallas," awarded by the local D Magazine. "I've always been in the restaurant business," explains Bryan, who started working in restaurants during high school. "I've worked just about every position possible." After the Uptown they opened Fat Ted's, which was based on a circus sideshow theme and featured live music or the occasional magic show. Their next spot was a Tex-Mex place called Pueblo Arriba, which translates to "uptown" in Spanish. Throughout their culinary ventures, Bryan and Kathy have always worked as a team: Bryan cooking up a storm in the kitchen and Kathy handling everything from waiting tables to doing the books—sometimes while holding down another full-time job. Running each restaurant presented an opportunity to refine recipes and tweak concepts.
Then the time came when Bryan and Kathy were ready for a change. They decided to sell their ownership in all the Dallas restaurants and move up to Chicago. Kathy was born in the area and had lived here until she was 16 when her family moved to Texas, so it was a natural decision. "We needed a change of scenery," recalls Kathy. "We were tired of summer all the time and wanted to experience the seasons again." They moved to Chicago in December of 2003 and began looking for a space for their new restaurant as soon as they arrived. Lincoln Square was an immediate candidate. "We didn't want to compete with too many other burger spots," says Kathy. So they opted for the empty space at the corner of Eastwood and Rockwell, just steps away from the Rockwell CTA station and an anchor of the Rockwell commercial district. After researching the area, Bryan and Kathy felt it was the right place for their new business. "We came back and visited at different times of the day," explains Kathy. "We did lots of research and knew, with the train station and with all of the families around here, the restaurant would be a good concept that fit the neighborhood."
Bryan and Kathy immersed themselves in building their new restaurant. They even rented the apartment upstairs so that they could be closer to the project. "I enjoy the challenge of opening a new place," explains Bryan. They did most of the work themselves, with Kathy painting the space and Bryan acting as handyman. "I built all of the tables by hand," recalls Bryan. "After 11 years in this business, you start to learn how to do things for yourself." Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill opened its doors in May 2004. In the beginning, Bryan and Kathy spent every waking moment at the restaurants, working seven days a week and sometimes 16-hour days. Kathy waited tables while Bryan ran the kitchen. And their research paid off: Rockwell's was a big hit with the neighbors. Their careful design blends in so well with the neighborhood that it seems like the restaurant has been here far longer than a few years.
Paying homage to its proximity to the Brown Line, Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill is a cozy spot filled with Chicago nostalgia. Pithy signs like "Free advice. $1 to listen." or "Free beer tomorrow" hang around the room. One of the most interesting pieces hangs above the bar: a 1950s photo of the old Rockwell station framed in an actual window preserved from the structure before it was recently torn down. Always full of neighbors and regulars, the restaurant welcomes families and caters to children with its "Stuff for the Little Ones" menu and crayons to keep them busy. A variety of micro- and macrobrews are served to pair with your burger, but Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill is definitely a restaurant and not a bar. "Before we opened the restaurant, we met with all of the neighbors to tell them what we were planning to do," says Kathy. She and Bryan reassured them that it would be a positive addition to the area. "We explained to them that we're tired of bars too," says Bryan.
 The Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill menu brings together many of the popular items from Bryan and Kathy's restaurants in Texas. Its famous burger is represented, along with Cajun and Tex-Mex dishes from past places, plus a few new items like steaks, chops and fish. Bryan's creative streak in the kitchen keeps the menu interesting. "I've never been a chef, but I like to come up with things that are a little different," explains Bryan. You'll find his signature items on the menu that take familiar foods in a completely new direction, like Louisiana Egg Rolls (filled with blackened chicken, andouille sausage, veggies and cheese) or Artichoke and Parmesan Cheese Hummus. "Bryan is really good at knowing what people will like," says Kathy. "I just throw in some bacon and cheese and that makes people happy," jokes Bryan. "I really love the kitchen. I love the adrenaline rush of working in there."
Just about everything—from soups to desserts—is made from scratch. Filled with American comfort foods, the menu features homemade soups like Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, a variety of sandwiches including Bryan's favorite, the Blackened Fish Sandwich, and creative salads like Kathy's top choice the Southwest Veggie Salad. "We always do a special every night," explains Kathy. "And we tend to offer more soups in the fall and winter. People have their favorite specials and often call in to find out when their favorite is available next." On Saturdays and Sundays, they do a simple breakfast/lunch menu, serving up eggs, french toast, and some not-so-common items like Bourbon Street Tacos filled with scrambled eggs, andouille sausage, cheese, green peppers and onions. Bryan's magic in the kitchen is obviously working, even after transporting it up north. Those signature burgers won a nod from the Chicago Tribune in 2005 when they made it into the top 16 of the best burgers in the city. "We were really honored by that, because there's so much more competition with all the great restaurants here," says Bryan. "There are just so many other good burgers."
A woman walks into Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill with a plate in her hand. "Here's the plate back from my brownie last night," she says. This is a common occurrence, Kathy says, and evidence of their neighborly ways. "We delivered one of our peanut butter brownies to her the other night. People show up with our plates and silverware all the time." Beloved by neighbors, Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill was lucky to build such a rapport so quickly. The restaurant faced a major business challenge when the Rockwell CTA station closed in February of 2006 because of the Brown Line reconstruction project. Bryan and Kathy were grateful for all of the support they received from the other businesses in the area pulling together, as well as from the customers who continued to patronize the restaurant. "A lot of people supported us during the station closing," recalls Bryan. "It was a really good feeling." Kathy remembers the comments she heard from various patrons. "They told us that they loved having us here and didn't want us to go anywhere."
Not only did the Rockin' on Rockwell Bash in September 2006 celebrate the reopening of the Rockwell CTA station, it represented a rebirth for businesses like Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill. Bryan had a great time working the one-day outdoor fest. "The Bash was crazy," he says. "It was a perfect day—about 80 degrees and sunny. It was absolutely packed. People kept joining us on their way home from work. I hope we're going to do it again next year." Bryan was in his element, set up behind an outdoor grill cooking up burgers, brats and dogs for the people of the neighborhood.
It's obvious that Bryan and Kathy enjoy what they are doing, which has a lot to do with their success. "We believe in offering a good product and good service at a reasonable price," says Bryan. "We love this town and we love the neighborhood," says Kathy. If you believe in destiny, Kathy's dream seems a premonition of their success. Even if you don't, you can come in and try the food for yourself to understand why Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill has such a loyal following.
Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill
4632 North Rockwell Street
Chicago, IL 60625
773.509.1871
www.rockwellsgrill.com
Hours:
Monday through Thursday 4pm - 10pm
Friday 4pm - 11pm
Saturday 10am - 11pm
Sunday 10am - 10pm
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