The Hills Cafe & Pizza Closes in Downtown Clarendon Hills

The Hills Cafe & Pizza has closed after a six-month run in downtown Clarendon Hills and the restaurant is for sale, according to the restaurant-owner's real estate agent.

Mike McCurry said the restaurant was put on the market Friday by owner Don Lindeman. The listed price for the restaurant and all of its assets is $189,000, McCurry said. A buyer would have to, after purchasing the restaurant, negotiate separately a lease with the building's owner. 

McCurry said the central location of the restaurant space lends itself to being a community gathering place. 

"It should be a place where everybody knows your name, so to speak," McCurry said Tuesday. 

Lindeman, a Willowbrook resident with a restaurant background, opened The Hills at Prospect and Park with Clarendon Hills resident Shane Johnson on Dec. 22, 2012. It was meant to be a low-cost, family-friendly diner/pizza joint option for the residents of Clarendon Hills.  

READ: Owner of The Hills Cafe & Pizza Hopes New Diner Will Fill Niche

Building problems delayed the opening, which was originally scheduled for December 2011. 

Johnson said Tuesday he has been away from the business for three months due to health issues and learned of Lindeman's plan to close about 10 days ago. 

"I'm very disappointed," Johnson said.

Johnson mentioned differences between he and Lindeman as business partners.

Johnson is currently working on opening another eatery, Sweet & Savory Spot, at 31 N. Cass Ave. in Westmont with his wife, step-daughter, and step-daughter's husband.

"We should be opening in a couple of weeks," Johnson said.

Village manager Randy Recklaus alerted the Clarendon Hills Village Board of The Hills' status at Monday night's board meeting. 

"We’ll be following that closely obviously, and working with whoever is going to be the owner of that property and business," Recklaus said.