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| Sandwich lovers may know their Reubens, Tuna Salads and Submarines, but how about a Swiss Turk, Roast Beast or a Spicy Roscoe? Oven-baked or deli style, you can find them all at Costello Sandwich & Sides. When co-owners (and brother and sister) Chris and Lisa Costello were looking to expand their Roscoe Village sandwich shop with a second location, Lincoln Square topped their choice of neighborhoods. It turns out, 47th Ward Alderman Gene Schulter dropped in their Roscoe Street shop regularly to pick up his favorite sandwich, the Italian Grinder. During one visit, Alderman Schulter planted the seed that Lincoln Square would be a perfect neighborhood to open another Costello restaurant. Chris and Lisa made a list of potential locations, then eventually decided that the Lincoln Avenue shop would be perfect. "We like being a storefront neighborhood business," says Lisa. After transforming the storefront with their signature cheerful decor, they officially opened in December of 2000. |
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 There's a reason why Costello Sandwich & Sides works so well: Chris and Lisa Costello make a great team. Chris is the inventor of the unusually delicious sandwiches and sides. Before opening his own business, Chris worked as a chef and kitchen manager in a number of restaurants across the country. "I've always had a strong interest in cooking in general," he says. All the while, he payed close attention to what did and didn't work when running a kitchen. He also developed his own recipes, some based on knowledge he picked up, and many more that were his own ideas. He kept these thoughts and recipes in a little book that he always carried with him, without really knowing exactly what to do with them.
While Chris was learning all sides of the restaurant business, his sister Lisa was climbing the ranks as a manager in the corporate world. She brings her business acumen to their partnership to make sure Costello is operating smoothly. They decided to go into business together by chance. "Chris showed me his little book one day, and I thought, this could be something really good," recalls Lisa. Her reaction was, "Are we going to do this, or what?" They talked about quitting their jobs and opening up a sandwich shop together, at first for fun, then more seriously. When Lisa wrote a business plan, they started sketching out logos and they got a loan, everything started to become real. Chris agrees that he and Lisa work together especially well. "Some restaurants are run by three great cooks with no business skills, and other restaurants are run by two doctors and a lawyer with great business skills but no creativity." |
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 Costello Sandwich & Sides sells more than just your ordinary sandwiches. Alongside Chicago staples like the Italian Beef, the Ham & Cheese Sub and the Italian Meatball, you'll find the Smokin Turk, The Mess and the Heartland. It offers a variety of traditionally cold and baked sandwiches, along with several soups that are homemade daily. Another distinguishing feature is its deluxe sandwich option that includes your choice of a delicious side dish. Chris built the menu from a combination of ideas from his original notebook, some sandwich standards and even a couple recipes handed down from the Costello family. Gramma Costello's Mostaccioli is a faithful representation of the zesty mostaccioli marinara made by their grandmother, "a great Italian woman who probably ate pasta with every meal," Chris says. Maryanne's Pineapple Tuna Pasta Salad was their mom's recipe. "We had it all the time as kids. Remember those days when it was 100 degrees out and it was too hot to cook? That's what she would make," laughs Lisa. Those who are skeptical of the pasta salad quickly form an opinion when they're offered a taste. "We give them a little sample in a cup," says Lisa, " and they all say 'This is so good, I'll take some.'"
Although the menu has been extremely successful, Chris and Lisa plan to shake it up soon. They'll be keeping the old favorites, but will be adding new sandwiches and sides including chipotle mac and cheese, a ham and cheese pesto sandwich and a mediterranean falafel sandwich on flatbread. They'll also be making their popular Friday Special, the Turkey Foccacia, a part of the everyday menu. Costello Sandwich & Sides makes meat eaters and vegetarians both happy. The Village Vegetarian is one of their top-selling sandwiches. "Our sandwiches were designed as vegetarian sandwiches," says Chris. "We're not like other sub shops that just take out the meat and call it vegetarian." |
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| Despite their success, Lisa and Chris have no plans to open dozens of Costello Sandwich & Sides everywhere or to start a franchise. You probably will never find a Costello in the John Hancock Center or in a strip mall. If they ever decide to open another location, they want to keep the sandwich shop a neighborhood place. "We like that we know our customers and their kids by name, what sandwiches they order and that they don't like tomatoes," says Chris. But staying true to their vision doesn't mean that the Costello concept will ever go stale. Chris and Lisa realize that there's always something to improve on. "Having your name on everything makes a big difference," says Chris. You can tell how seriously Chris and Lisa both take the business by how many hours each of them spend in the stores, doing everything from running shifts to bussing tables. "We're excited to work—in fact, it doesn't really feel like work," says Lisa."It's just a part of our lives." |
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 When she's not working, Lisa spends time with her husband Jake. They just got married in July and bought a new house in Park Ridge where Lisa takes care of the garden. Lisa and Jake spent their honeymoon in Italy, where they (of course) ate lots of great food. Chris takes good care of his black Lab, Nick, and even finds time and energy to cook for his friends and family when he's away from the restaurant.
Between the two locations, Costello Sandwich & Sides has about 40 employees, with about 16 or so in Lincoln Square. In the beginning, Chris used to do a lot more of the cooking, but now he's trained his staff to pick up where he left off. Lisa and Chris joined the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce shortly after they opened the Lincoln Avenue location. "We've found working with everyone in Lincoln Square to be very nice," says Lisa. |
| If you haven't already had a famous Costello sandwich, be sure to stop in this fall to try one of their new or stand-by items. You can eat in, carry out or have your food delivered during delivery hours. Call ahead with your order, and they will have it ready for you to pick up. And if you're planning an event that would be even better with catered food, ask about their party platters. As Chris says, you'll be in for "some really good, original food served fast in a pleasant environment." |
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Costello Sandwich & Sides
4647 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
773.989.7788
www.sandwichme.com
Hours:
Monday to Saturday 11am-9pm
Sunday 11am-6pm
Delivery:
Monday to Saturday 5am-9pm
Sunday 11am-4pm |
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| Read more profiles in the Member of the Month Archives |
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