Maple Tree Inn Owners Announce Soft Openings in January 2020

Famed restaurant Maple Tree Inn will raise the curtain in Homewood with "soft openings" and private affairs in mid-January 2020, announced owners Katie and Erich Wennberg.

Following final presentations to the Homewood Village Board last month, the couple declared: "The final specs are ready to go."

With completed acquisition of The Cottage in Homewood, the Maple Tree Inn strategically initiates a new era of serving award-winning Cajun and Creole cuisine at 18849 Dixie Highway in Homewood, Illinois.

A fire demolished the Maple Tree building on Olde Western Avenue in Blue Island, Illinois in August of 2018. By industry standards, the Maple Tree Inn has rebounded in a short time frame, roughly a year and a half.

"Dress rehearsal begins in mid-January with private gatherings of community leaders and restaurant industry people who have supported this remarkable and swift transition," said Erich Wennberg. "Our long-term vision for success requires us to get it right immediately, and our consultants and peers will be our harshest judges."

Confidence brimming over, the Wennbergs point to "100-percent staff retention" as assurance they will recover with the same "culinary excellence our long-time followers expect and our new patrons in Homewood will come to realize."

Wennberg credits a "basket of insurance policies and a staff kept whole" as hastening the opening in Homewood, a town eager to help them find their footing.

"It just been a godsend for us to come to Homewood," said Katie.

The Wennbergs called the dining experience at the Maple Tree Inn "polished casual" and announced plans to be open for dinner Wednesdays through Sunday with additional plans in coming months to serve a Sunday brunch.

"Homewood is very excited for Maple Tree Inn to open its doors so we have a taste of the Big Easy in our backyard," said Mayor Richard Hofeld. "The world-class food of Maple Tree Inn fits perfectly into our community and complements the already wonderful restaurants and shops in the Homewood area."

Applications and interviews to fill additional staff needs are underway.

Members of the Homewood Village board chimed in with the mayor.

"I can't say how many people have stopped and asked me when you're opening," said trustee Barbara Dawkins. "People are really excited."

Trustee Lisa Purcell thanked the couple "for investing in our community. People are thrilled that you'll be here."

Erich shared during the meeting that he and Hofeld first discussed opening a second Maple Tree Inn in Homewood a decade ago. The conversation was revived after tragedy destroyed the restaurant and their upstairs home.

"This is our community now," Erich said.

Exiting Blue Island was bittersweet as community leaders explored all options and extended its efforts to retain the Olde Western anchor but, ultimately, Wennberg said: "controlling our destiny as a business with impeccable service and award-winning results was paramount to all else."

During the wooing process, Blue Island Ald. Fred Bilotto led the charge to keep the Maple Tree Inn in Blue Island.

"Fred, in particular, worked tirelessly to try and find any and all solutions for us to rebuild on Olde Western," said Erich Wennberg. "In the end, the sheer scope of what was needed was never going to match a timeline for us to retain our talented staff and satisfy our customers."

Sunday, September 15, 2019 concluded a brief "interlude" in Maple Tree Inn's history as the Bistro, a concept the Wennbergs used to empower its staff to control its own destiny by running a smaller restaurant at 13000 South Western from November of 2018 through September of 2019.

While the temporary location "was a big hit" - by and large - it allowed workers to comfortably bridge salary and health benefits while keeping families in their same homes and kids in the same schools.

"Looking back it now seems like a dream sequence but mostly it was a great plan to keep our team intact," said Morgan Gansauer, manager. "We can't wait to seat our most loyal customers and meet our new ones.

"There's something about creating a plan and having answers in the midst of disaster that brings a group closer together. Breaking up the band was never an option. We are excited to be aboard for this new venture in Homewood."

"We are so proud to have exceeded even our own expectations with Bistro," said chef Mark Smith.

The same brief "Bistro era" allowed the Wennbergs to mull solutions and entertain all offers. While the offers came from far and near, their sights did not. They recently purchased a house in Homewood close to The Cottage with a spacious yard for their dogs that survived the fire.

In the meantime, "clear and open communication" with staff has led to the Maple Tree Inn's next iteration in "Home Sweet Homewood," said Erich.

The Wennbergs have tidied up the exterior of the old Cottage and its 75-space parking lot and have introduced subtle interior alterations befitting a Cajun/Creole destination restaurant. News of the great wooden bar will be addressed upon installation when properly prepared because "we need to honor the historical integrity of the bar."

The business couple has met every self-imposed deadline since August of 2018. For now, they are leaving a ribbon cutting date open ended, though, the curtain will be raised in the coming weeks after a few quiet dress rehearsal servings.

"The challenge of maintaining a loyal following and sustaining award-winning standards in legendary New Orleans cuisine has taken commitment and sacrifice from a unique core group of professionals," said Katie.

"Metaphorically, we've rebuilt ourselves from within, finding out exactly how resilient the human spirit can be in tough times. Our staff is more dedicated than ever. Our passion for providing an unparalleled level of service is unwavering. Our love for what we do – serving the finest of Cajun and Creole cuisine - has intensified.

"To paraphrase 'you don't know what you got 'til it's gone' loss has galvanized us as a team with our staff - our family really.

"Now is the most exciting time in the history of The Maple Tree Inn. Now, we have the honor of going from rebuild to rebirth."

Reservations can be made calling 708/388-3461 or on line at: https://www.opentable.com/r/ma... or www.mapletreeinnrestaurant.com

Hours of operation for dinner: Wednesday/Thursday 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.; Friday 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.; Sunday 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.