Nick's Email Plea Keeps Business Open, For Now

His business stalled but he pulled it out of a nosedive for the month of October.

Nick Sarillo said the bank was after him to close one or both of his restaurants because he was losing money and couldn't pay his bills. 

But the owner of — with locations in and Elgin — swallowed his pride and, in a desperate move, , asking them for more business.

Sarillo said the critical month financially for Nick’s Pizza is October and now — halfway through the month — he said sales at his restaurants are up a combined 40 percent, enough to keep both of his restaurants in Crystal Lake and Elgin open for now.

Last month he thought the month of October could be curtains. He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to pay the bills, including payroll for around 200 employees and mortgage on two properties. 

“I was unsure about sending the email (on Sept. 27) to customers, asking for their help,” Sarillo said. “But I’m glad now that I did.”

Local and national media outlets picked up Sarillo’s story.  

“I read the story (in the Crystal Lake Patch) about Nick's,” said Brian Peters, a resident of Cary. “We wanted to help. So we went to Nick’s and waited and waited for a table. The place was jammed. We ended up going to some other place.”

Sarillo said local and national media coverage and the pressure members of the community put on his bank to give him more wiggle room worked. Sarillo declined to name his lender.

Sarillo’s restaurant in Crystal Lake, open since 1995, is full of photographs of scores of youth sport teams that he has sponsored over the years.

He is also a well-known soft touch when it comes to charities and fundraisers.

Sarillo said he wasn’t surprised his customers responded after he asked for help.