Andy Wrobel, 75, Opened Andy and Sophie’s Tavern In 1974

JOLIET, IL — Andrew "Andy" Wrobel, age 75, of Orland Park and former resident of Joliet for 56 years, died Sunday at Lightways Hospice, according to Tezak Funeral Home. Andy and Sophie Wrobel ran their neighborhood bar at the corner of Moran and Hickory streets for 45 years, from 1974 until 2019.

In 2020, Patrick Walsh, an out-of-town lawyer in private practice, bought the property at 931 North Hickory Street and acquired the liquor license. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Andy & Sophie's was shut down in March 2020 and has not reopened, yet.

During an October 2020 interview with Joliet Patch's editor, Andy Wrobel and his wife Sophie remarked that they miss their customers; they developed so many tight-knit friendships with their Joliet-area regulars. And they were proud of what Andy & Sophie's symbolized for Joliet.

Andy & Sophie's was known for dishing up quality home-cooked food. It was a place to stop for lunch. Corned beef and cabbage rolls. Polish sausage and sauerkraut. Meatloaf. The Wrobels told me they did not second guess their decision to retire in 2019.

"It was time," Andy said. "It was time to go."

On Monday, Joliet's Tezak Funeral Home reached out to Joliet Patch with the following information for Andy Wrobel's obituary:

Andrew "Andy" Wrobel was the beloved husband of Sophie (nee Lesnicki); loving father of Stanley (Lucynka) and the late Vickyann (1982); adored grandfather to Andrew and John; uncle and father figure to Kazimierz (KC) Maka; brother to the late Jan, Stefania and Jozef; brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend to many.

Born on June 26, 1947 to Aleksander and Wiktoria, Andy grew up in Gron, Poland and in pursuit of the American Dream emigrated to Joliet in 1963. In 1967 Andy returned to Poland and met his beloved wife, Sophie where they married on July 5th. Sophie then emigrated to Joliet in 1968 and later they opened Andy and Sophie’s Tavern in 1974 which was a popular neighborhood bar on Hickory Street that served the best homemade lunches in Joliet. While Sophie cooked lunches and managed the finances, Andy was the bartender and witty jokester. He also was a retired Teamster local 179. Andy was a people person who cherished his family and friends, saw the importance in working hard and loved to make people smile. He was proud of his Polish Highlander heritage but more proud of being a United States citizen coincidentally taking a picture with President Richard Nixon in Chicago 1972 after being sworn in.

A celebration of Andrew’s life will begin on Saturday, January 14, 2023 with prayers in the funeral chapel at 9:20 a.m. then driving in procession to Holy Cross Catholic Church in Joliet for a Mass of Christian Burial to be held at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Justice. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 13, 2023 at Tezak Funeral Home, 1211 Plainfield Road, Joliet from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Obituary and tribute wall for Andrew Wrobel are available at www.tezakfuneralhome.com.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

• Andy & Sophie, Now Retired, Hope Andy & Sophie's Makes Comeback
• Andy & Sophie to Retire after 45 Years in Joliet
• Andy & Sophie's Liquor License Transfer Goes To City Council