Gene & Georgetti Closing Rosemont Restaurant And Banquet Hall

ROSEMONT, IL — Citing the coronavirus pandemic as making their large banquet facility "largely unusable," the owners of Gene & Georgetti announced Thursday that they will be closing the Rosemont location. The landlord of the 9421 W Higgins Road property is asking the business to vacate the property by Nov. 4. Gene & Georgetti opened the Rosemont location in 2015.

The River North location of the family steakhouse, founded in 1941, will remain open in Chicago.

"We had hoped to stay open through the holidays, giving our wonderful employees an opportunity to earn more income and our loyal customers the opportunity to enjoy a last meal before we are forced to close," the owners said in a post on the restaurant's website. "Instead, we will be welcoming you until Oct. 31."

According to its website, Gene & Georgetti was founded in 1941 by Gene Michelotti and his partner, Alfredo Federighi, who was nicknamed "Georgetti" after a famous Italian cyclist. Located in the heart of River North, Gene & Georgetti is Chicago's oldest and one of its finest steakhouses. Partners Gene and "Georgetti" worked hand in hand to establish the reputation of excellence that is continued through today. Federighi died in 1969. Michelotti passed away in 1989.

After Michelotti's death, his daughter, Marion, and her husband, Tony Durpetti, took over the family business.

For couples that put down deposits on 2020 weddings, which had already been rescheduled for 2021, the owners are refunding those deposits personally, according to the post, as "the restaurant won’t be able to refund your deposit due to lost revenue during the pandemic."

"We are devastated that the Village of Rosemont was unwilling to work with us during a time when so many restaurants are struggling due to the impact of COVID-19 on our entire industry," the post continues.

The owners thanked investors, customers, "couples who have given us a five-star rating for five years," vendors and the staff.