Village Board Approves Final Site Plan for New Clara's Location

The Village of Woodridge Board of Trustees approved a final site plan for a new location of  Thursday night. 

The restaurant is leasing space in a shopping center near Route 53 and Hobson Road and has been at that location for 24 years. The new site will be built in the empty lot next to the shopping center. 

The new restaurant will provide about 5,800 square feet of space. That will add only 20 to 30 more seats to the restaurant but will allow for the layout of the restaurant to be less cramped, said Rudy Melchiorre, owner of Clara's. 

"Right now, we have a lot in a cramped space," Melchiorre said. "We'll have more space; we'll add a little patio. We'll have more room in the kitchen and will add some kitchen items." 

The owner of Clara's restaurant purchased the property in 2000 to build a restaurant. The lot was actually intended in 1999 to be a Steak 'n Shake, but Steak 'n Shake decided to not move forward with the restaurant. 

Melchiorre said several factors prevented the restaurant from being built, the economy being one of them. Now that the site plan has been approved, Melchiorre said he is waiting for the construction permit. He estimates construction will start around Jan. 1, 2012.