George’s What's Cooking Closes Sunday

, a Deerfield restaurant fixture for 13 years on Waukegan Road, will close Sunday because of the recession that began four years ago, according to owner George Christakis.

“I was unable to fulfill the American dream,” Christakis said. “We were one of the recession’s casualties.”

Christakis and his wife, Vicki, who works with him at the restaurant, will take some time to decide their next move and are grateful for the relationships they have developed with their customers over the years.

“I have to put my thoughts together,” Christakis said. “This is the only business I know. We’ll lay low for a while. We want to thank all our customers and followers.”

Josie Cahill, a waitress since George’s opened, has a new job lined up at the Continental in Buffalo Grove. “It’s the end of an era,” she said of the eatery’s last day Sunday.

A part time hostess and waitress who arrived six months after the restaurant opened, Patti Lemus, will be looking for a new part time opportunity. She has a full time job. “I have to have something to fill my hours,” she said.