Spiro’s Deli Misses Village Planned Summer Fest Opening

GLENVIEW, Ill. – Spiro’s Deli, a beloved family-run institution since 1962, will not open this Saturday for Summer Fest as originally planned by the village and the Glenview Chamber of Commerce. The anticipated mid-April opening has come and gone, but construction workers now confirm the team is pushing for a July 4 debut.

“I’m sure the owner would like all of the business from that big parade,” said a construction worker on site, referring to Glenview’s Independence Day celebration. “I heard they have in downtown Glenview.”

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The worker added that the main sign was being installed Thursday, with village inspections still pending. “Besides that, I think we are close,” a site supervisor said.

Sheen Park, a production manager with TFA Signs, was installing the main deli sign above the door. Canopy signs reading “hotdog” and “poor boy” were installed last week.

A New Home in the Heart of Downtown

The new 1,400- to 1,500-square-foot brick building, designed by architect Jeffery Heaney, sits at 1880 Glenview Road – directly across from the Glenview Public Library in the Village’s Downtown District. The location marks a major move for the restaurant, which has operated at 1210 Waukegan Road since relocating once before in the mid-1990s.

The Village of Glenview Board of Trustees approved financial agreements to facilitate the move, including a $595,000 loan structured to encourage continuous operation. Spiro’s is responsible for construction costs in accordance with the village’s development review process.

‘Nowhere to Eat Lunch’

Construction workers in the area are eagerly awaiting the opening. Greg Seek of Chicago, working on the Glenview House project, said lunch options are sorely lacking.

“All of us have been going down to the Italian beef lunch meat place, and the line is going out the door,” Seek said. “I think right now there are over 120 construction workers in Glenview, and there’s nowhere to eat lunch.”

Expanded Space, Extended Hours

The new Spiro’s will feature:

· Seating for 25 people, plus a new outdoor patio
· Extended hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
· A full deli counter with classic favorites including “The Bomber,” chicken pita, Italian beef, gyros, burgers, hot dogs, poor boys, soups, and salads

Deep Roots in Glenview

Spiro’s Deli was founded in 1962 by Spiro and Catherine Nestos. Their son, Peter, grew up in the local neighborhood surrounding the shop. In 1994, when his father fell ill, Peter left his career as a trader at the Chicago Board of Trade to take over and preserve the family business.

Peter is widely recognized for his hands-on management – frequently working behind the counter – and his community involvement, which has included coaching youth baseball.

Longtime resident Beth Wright, 84, remembers the deli’s earlier days. “I remember when this deli was directly in front of the Walgreens at Lake and Waukegan,” she said. “All of my friends would go there after school, and it would be completely packed with kids from three different area schools.”

Kids waiting at a pizza shop across from the library echoed that enthusiasm. “My friends and I have been getting pizza and donuts every day after school ever since I can remember,” one said. “It will be great to be able to go in and have a sub sandwich. My mom said she went there as a kid.”

A Sweetheart Deal? Editorial Take

While Peter Nestos may not have received the largest amount of money in Glenview’s downtown revitalization, by a long shot he got the best deal and – ratio-wise – stands to walk away with the largest profit. A hardworking, longtime Glenview resident rooted in the community, Peter will gain the most.

The expansion is truly remarkable. He had a small spot in a strip mall. Now he has a very large building directly across from one of the largest public libraries on the North Shore, in downtown Glenview. This is the story of an American dream that came true.

Unlike other beneficiaries of the revitalization program – big-money firms that already own multiple restaurant groups, including a developer with an exclusive contract for all food and alcohol sales at the park district ice arena – Spiro’s represents old-school local grit. Village trustees disbursed permanent fund money to high-end restaurants over a 1-2 year period with no public application process at Village Hall. Everything was handled by a development firm.

(Permanent fund money is not tax dollars; it was generated through the sale of Hangar One property at The Glen and interest earned on those funds. The money belongs to Glenview residents. Notably, no funds from the sale of Hangar One or any property at the former Glenview Naval Air Station went to the nonprofit naval air station museum, which closed last year due to lack of funding. No minority businesses were involved in the revitalization program.)

Ribbon Cutting to Come

With all new business openings, the Glenview Chamber of Commerce conducts a large ribbon-cutting ceremony and posts photos on social media – as long as the business is a paying member.

Support Local

After Summer Fest, after the July 4 events, and certainly during and after Blocktoberfest, remember to support the local businesses that have been here forever through thick and thin. They stuck it out through COVID, and now they’re weathering a difficult economy.

Stop by longtime local spots: Spiro’s Deli, Glenview Grind coffee shop, Viccino’s Pizza, Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Forza Meats.

Eat and shop old school local.