Fri. October 3, 2014
Chicago, IL -
Father and son team John and Nick Cocalis reintroduced Horizon Cafe in 2004 to Chicago's Lakeview community with a simple goal that included affordable, quality food with exceptional service.
A decade later, the neighborhood favorite continues to attract huge weekend brunch crowds with creative home-made dishes in a relaxed dining experience.
The restaurant has some great stories to tell. Among them is that the restaurant will be celebrating it's 10th anniversary next weekend.
"The best stories come from seeing the successful progression of our customers' lives," says Nick Cocalis, Managing Partner.
"We enjoy seeing a young couple dating, becoming engaged, getting married, having a child and then requesting high chairs for their two toddlers during a family meal. We are proud of our graduate student customers who become successful attorneys, psychologists, physicians and other thriving professionals. We beam when we see new retirees who move into the area, alone and afraid, but then take the leap to make new friends."
Situated in the heart of Chicago's primary LGBT neighborhood, Boystown, the restaurant is "accepting to all" according to Cocalis, continuing with "this philosophy is represented throughout our team."
The restaurant, a frequent donator to LGBT events and fundraisers, goes a step further to visibly show it's support for the neighborhood.
"We offer an abundant breakfast platter, The Pride Platter, which is permanently on our breakfast menu. One dollar for every platter sold is donated to the Center On Halsted, which is a hallmark for the community," Nick Cocalis tells ChicagoPride.com.
A typical Sunday brunch at Horizon Cafe can be described as energetic where "people come together to celebrate good times with their family and friends while eating a great breakfast."
John Cocalis opened his first restaurant at 21 in Clare Michigan. Many of the recipes at Horizon cafe have lasted over five decades and have been updated with current ingredients.
"As a family, we constantly look to update our menu and recipes to meet our customers' discerning tastes," says Nick.
But the homemade dishes and desserts aren't the only things that bring an atmosphere of family and closeness.
"I come from an extremely close family, with whom their support has helped promote our success. My parents are often present to help with inventory purchases and quality control over our dishes. My brother helps manage some shifts and personally serves our customers, gaining vital feedback for our growth," says Nick.
The restaurant celebrates 10 years with a special weekend event of promotions, includng giveaways and a throwback to 2004 prices, on October 11-12, 2014.
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Head to the local LGBTQ news, events, directory and people network at ChicagoPride.com