Hackney's Announces Closing In Palos Park After 33 Great Years

PALOS PARK, IL -- If you’re craving a Hackney’s blue cheese burger, you will have to travel to north suburbs for your fix. After 33 wonderful years, Hackney’s announced Tuesday that it will be closing its location in Palos Park.

Hackney’s at 123rd Street and LaGrange Road has been closed for over a month. An outgoing message said the restaurant would be closed until further notice as the owners dealt with some building maintenance issues. On Tuesday, however, Mike Masterson, the son of the original owners, announced the sad news on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

“With heavy hearts, we announce that after 33 years of serving customers at our Palos Park Location on 123rd and LaGrange Rd, we made the difficult decision to permanently close our doors. Due to increased costs for significant maintenance on our building, we deemed it impractical and unrealistic to continue operating at this location, especially as Mike is nearing retirement. It has been our privilege to serve our community for the last 33 years. We express our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to our loyal customers, our dedicated employees, and the Palos Community.”

Kitz and Jim Masterson opened the first Hackney’s restaurant across the street from the Cook County forest preserve in 1939 at 241 Harms Road, Glenview. A few years later, the Mastersons branched out and opened a second restaurant about a mile away at 1514 E. Lake Ave. The same family has owned and operated the regional Hackney’s chain for 80 years.

Hackney’s opened a Lake Zurich location in 1969. The family sold building in August 2018, which burned down the next month. A fourth Wheeling location opened in 1965 and closed in 2011, when another family member retired.

In 1983, Hackney’s brought its signature burgers served on dark rye bread and french fried onion rings to the south suburbs, opening in Palos Park. The local jazz band The Brass Tracks frequently entertained diners. About a month ago, area residents noticed the restaurant was closed.

“The building maintenance issues were serious enough that we’re going to close for good,” said Sally Landri, one of the family owners.

Landri would not elaborate on the maintenance issues, but said the restaurant is not likely to reopen in another south suburban location.

~ Hackney's Palos Park | Photo used with permission