“A local guy is reopening the Gale Street Inn – Chicago, 4914 N. Milwaukee Ave., a local landmark that closed last June.
“Paulo Villabona’s family bought a home in Jefferson Park in 2019, fixed it up and now live just a few blocks from the restaurant, which opened in 1963.
“‘We fell in love really quickly with the area, and we saw several avenues to grow our roots here,’ said Villabona, who took ownership of the restaurant on Nov. 1.
“Former owner George Karzas said that he is grateful that a local resident is carrying on the Gale Street Inn tradition — and adding some of his own touches.
“‘At the end of the day, this place actually belongs to the neighborhood,” said Karzas, who listed the difficulty in hiring staff as one of his reasons for closing the restaurant. ‘It’s right that it’s a guy who lives in the community.’
“There were several interested buyers, so what sealed the deal? There’s a story behind that — a story that Karzas fell in love with.
“Villabona said that he and Hilary got married a couple years ago in a private ceremony and now wanted to have a family gathering in celebration of it. Plans had been in place for a party to be held under a large tent in a forest preserve but the weather forecast was looking ugly.
“‘All week they were saying severe thunderstorms … 97 degrees,’ said Villabona, who called George and the family event was moved to the Gale Street Inn. Taco trucks helped provide the food.
“Villabona, who likes to sing blues and jazz, was performing during the party while holding his two-year-old daughter. And for Karzas, that was all he needed to see, as Villabona he said looked comfortable inside the restaurant and was ready to take over the reins.
“The Gale Street is tentatively scheduled to reopen in early December, with some private events before that. And a good number of the Gale Street staff will be returning. ‘There’ll be a lot of familiar faces.'”
Read the full story at Nadig Newspapers
- Next chapter of Gale Street Inn awaits, as new owner takes over reins of Jefferson Park landmark, Brian Nadig, Nadig Newspapers, 11/4/25
- Gale Street Inn opening Dec. 4, Brian Nadig, Nadig Newspapers, 11/24/25
- Gale Street Inn Being Revived By New Owners After Abrupt Closure — And The Ribs Will Be Back; A Jefferson Park resident is taking over the 62-year-old restaurant. He plans on reopening next month, Molly DeVore, Block Club Chicago, 11/4/25
- Gale Street Inn, a Jefferson Park institution, closes for good without any advance word to customers; “I’m tired, it’s hard,” owner George Karzas said after suddenly shutting down the Northwest Side restaurant that’s been around since 1963. He said staffing was a big factor, Bob Chiarito, Chicago Sun-Times, 6/19/25
- Gale Street Inn restaurant in Chicago’s Jefferson Park reopens Thursday, new owner says, Adam Harrington, Jeramie Bizzle, Vince Floress, CBS Chicago, 12/3/25