Restaurants look to expand, move into Crystal Lake

CRYSTAL LAKE A new restaurant is moving to Crystal Lake, and another Crystal Lake classic is opening a new space devoted to retail and carryout.

The Nancy's Pizza location in Lake in the Hills will be moving to a slightly larger space at 1295 Randall Road, between Ackman Road and McHenry Avenue, sometime this spring, said Bill Gluck, the restaurant's owner.

That is dependent on whether there are additional delays, he said, but hes hoping to start construction within the next month. The work will take about eight weeks, he said.

The storefront is already built but hasnt been occupied yet, Planning and Economic Development Manager James Richter said. Gluck will have to remodel the inside and turn it into a restaurant.

The restaurant will be one of 27 franchise locations in the Chicago metropolitan area. Like other Nancys Pizza spots, the 1,700-square-foot restaurant will offer its signature stuffed pizza.

Another business a scaled-down, carryout version of Benedicts La Strata with a front retail section stocked with unusual food items and gift items is set to open around the third week of February, said its owner, John Pilafas, who also owns Benedicts Eggs & More in East Dundee.

The whole retail part is new to me, so Im leaving it up to my wife, said Pilafas, who hopes to squeeze in a bit of vacation before opening the newest location.

A Taste of Benedicts will offer a variety of coffee and pastries in the morning and some of its popular lunch items, including salads and sandwiches, later in the day, he said. The food will all be prepared and packaged at Benedicts La Strata, which is across the street from the new store at 39 N. Williams St.

The goal is for A Taste of Benedicts to take some of the pressure off the lunchtime carryout rush at La Strata, he said.

The location previously was the resale shop Fionas Finds and J. Scott Menswear before that.

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Restaurants look to expand, move into Crystal Lake