It was evident something was very wrong. Hostess Natalie Gridley just stood there with tears in her eyes, and the sound of sniffles was everywhere.
The Mill Race Inn, a Geneva icon since 1933, will close its doors for good this Sunday after serving dinner for the last time.
Formerly a blacksmith shop, The Mill Race Inn has been the setting for family gatherings, weddings, and Sunday brunches for generations with its panoramic views of the Fox River from almost every seat in the house.
With cottage-like rooms, most with a fireplace and views of the river, Mill Race was a popular place for families and quiet dates, offering a menu of fine dining that included roast prime rib of beef, chicken marsala, and pan-seared breast of duck. The Gazebo, open in warmer months, offered a place to share a drink and lighter fare while watching the geese and ducks beg for food.
Owner Charlie Roumeliotis could hardly get the words out as he read from a prepared statement that began, “It is with much sadness and deep regret,” in announcing the closing.
“This is a beautiful place; a beautiful community,” he said hesitatingly. “It’s a sign of the times, I guess. Very sad.”
Roumeliotis and his son George assumed management in 2004 after spending nearly 26 years operating Horwath’s Restaurant on North Harlem Avenue in Elmwood Park. That venue had a dedicated clientele as well, and was similarly part of the fabric of the community.
Server Moire Brennan, like Gridley, has worked at Mill Race for seven years and considers everyone there to be family.
“I loved coming to work every day,” she said. “It was like a vacation. I love my boss.”
As she added, “we’re family,” she broke down, again, in tears. Brennan had brain surgery a few years ago, and said she's thankful her boss hired her back.
Roumeliotis started making calls to some of the regulars, like the Lions Club and Rotary Club, which have been meeting weekly at the restaurant for years.
“A real charm is going away in Geneva,” said Gordie Hard, owner of Valley Insurance Agency and a member and past president of both Geneva Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce. “If you think about it, it’s the most successful restaurant over all these years up and down the river.”
Mayor Kevin Burns said the decision to close was “clearly a very personal decision,” and that he respected the Roumeliotis family for making such a difficult choice.
“Generations of people from Geneva and elsewhere fondly remember The Mill Race Inn where they had their wedding reception, special anniversaries, birthdays, you name it,” Burns said. “Now as that building closes its doors, memories become fresher, perhaps more melancholy and even nostalgic.”
Unfortunately, the lack of weddings and other large parties appear to have contributed to the decision to close. Roumeliotis said that while the restaurant did well in the summer months, the lack of bookings for Christmas parties and other larger events left him with no choice.
The restaurant also faced some hardships the last few years with two massive floods that forced Roumeliotis to close once for 12 days and another for a week. The last flood forced the permanent closing of the Mill Grill on the lower level.
The Mill Race employs 45 people, many of whom have worked there for many years.
Roumeliotis said he waited until Thursday to tell employees, whom he considers family, “because I still was hoping something; that I could think of something.” His voice trailed off.
“It breaks my heart.”
Tina
4:31 pm on Friday, January 21, 2011
This makes me very sad. I have been looking forward to moving to your area. I guess things are bad everywhere. So, with a broken heart and tears running down my face, I say to you that I am sorry for you, for us all. God Bless you. Tina in CA.
Eileen Hagen
5:47 pm on Friday, January 21, 2011
So sorry to hear about Mill Race Inn's closing. We loved dining at the Gazebo during the summer months. A very sad closing for the town of Geneva.
Karen Chadra
10:06 pm on Friday, January 21, 2011
Oh no!!! I love this place. So sad. We were just talking about how we have to go there again very soon. Spent many special occasions at Mill Race Inn. This is heartbreaking :(
Mike Simon
6:24 am on Saturday, January 22, 2011
The Mill Race Inn was one of the original pillars responsible for Geneva's reputation as a destination for unique dining and shopping. Its presence was a source of pride to all of us who do business in this town.
Kristina Garcia
10:30 am on Saturday, January 22, 2011
As personal friends of the Roumeliotis Family and as a business owner I am sorry and understand the gut wrenching decision that they made. You build up something and you are proud of it and its place in the community. We wish Charlie, Athena and George success in the future and our heartfelt gratitude.
Patrick Johnsen
3:08 pm on Saturday, January 22, 2011
My family and friends have had so many wonderful experiences at the Mill Race Inn including, lunches, dinner's, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and just regular occasions. Its my favorite restaurant of all time, (always loved the steak and lobster!) the staff is the best, the location is incredible and it makes me sad to hear the restaurant has to close.... thank you for all of the wonderful memories your restaurant and staff have provided to all of us over the years!
Patrick Johnsen
reafly
7:16 pm on Saturday, January 22, 2011
Where was the Geneva Hysterical Society when things started to go bad for this landmark location? But we can spend a million dollars on a concrete pedestrian bridge so an ambulance can get to point of care at Island Park. Priorities are so messed up in this town. God help the merchants.
Kurt Wehrmeister
11:23 am on Sunday, January 23, 2011
Exactly what, may I ask, was the Geneva Historical Society/Geneva History Center supposed to have done to save the Mill Race Inn, in your view?
Linda Elarde
12:56 am on Sunday, January 23, 2011
Awe Charlie! How I miss you and Chris. Okay, George too! So glad I had a chance to pay a visit to you there. I'm now living in Arizona....the warm section...and loving it. I'll never forget working for you. You have left your footprints on my heart. With love and hugs, Linda Elarde
Chase Castle
1:04 am on Monday, January 24, 2011
Really a loss. You'd be hard pressed to find any family that lives in the Tri Cities who hasn't dined there at least once, or doesn't have a funny story or fond memory associated with an evening out there. Unfortunately, the restaurant business has never been the most forgiving, and I guess it's no surprise an upscale restaurant in the (well, let's be honest, kinda stagnant [compared to Randall Rd]) downtown couldn't weather the storm.
Suzanne Goldman Rubin
10:27 am on Monday, January 24, 2011
I am so sorry to here the closing of The Mill Race Inn ....I am a former resident of St.Charles, Illinois and Batavia ,Illinois... I do hope there will be a new investor soon...Suzanne Rubin Los Angeles, Ca.
robert poznanski
12:17 pm on Monday, January 24, 2011
It is with sadness that we learned of the demise of the premier restaurant on rt 38,Mill Race Inn!!It is just a comment on the times we find ourself's in with the unemployed rolls growing daily,and no relief in sight! The outings, that a secure middle class has always kept wonderful places, like this, in business, are becoming less frequent,because, the cost of necessities, must now be considered, before luxuries, and the Mill Race Inn,was one of the beautiful luxuries of living in the Tri-Cities area!!We will especially miss the wonderful Gazebo, in the summer! So Sorry!!
Sheila McCauley
7:43 pm on Tuesday, January 25, 2011
This has been our family's very favorite restaurant for 45 years. My son Jeffrey and Kate got engaged out under that big old tree in 1990. You had the greatest food and your hospitality was the very best ever and we always loved going to Mill Race when good friends came to visit as they also loved your warmness and kindness that you showed to I everyone that came through your doors. The grandkids like eating in the gazebo and then feeding the ducks. I am so sad that I cannot come and sit and look out at that beautiful serene setting again.
Charlie and George I am really going to miss you . This is so sad. Take care and God Bless.
Sheila McCauley.. Oswego, Il
EWS99
11:58 am on Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Well, after numerous nice visits over the years, we had an absolutely calamedous experience there Christmas Eve a few years ago, shortly after the new owners took over, and we never went back. Discussion with management and even a very cordial/professional letter to the owner were ignored. A 70+ year old 'institution' like the Mill Race Inn, like any business, doesn't go out of business due to 'external issues'... it's quality, responsive service, adaptability and intuitive management that knows how to market in changing conditions that sustains a business to 'landmark' status. Maybe an organization that understands these concepts will pick up the site and make a go of it.
Carolyn Brode
10:24 am on Saturday, January 29, 2011
Oh my...this is devastating news.
I was born and raised in Northern Illinois and have spent so many family and friend gatherings at your wonderful restaurant in Geneva over many many many years.
I currently live in Waukegan and have literally driven my friends, unfamiliar with Geneva, down there for a day of shopping and we ALWAYS had lunch at Mill Race Inn. My friends from Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Libertyville just loved it!
We will all miss this restaurant and have great sadness in our hearts!
Does anyone have the recipe for Swedish Cream???? We will be lost without that dessert!
Randy Thomas
9:12 am on Friday, February 11, 2011
I am certainly sorry to hear of the closing also. My father truly enjoyed going there. Based on past experiences that is why we chose to book my mother-in-laws 85th birthday party at the Mill Race prior to them closing. We had given them a two hundred dollar deposit and later were informed on their closing. After repeated calls to their phone number none of which were answered I am still unable to recoup the $200.
Cathy Kern Betts
4:15 am on Monday, April 11, 2011
I am so sorry - the news of this hadn't reached me here in New Zealand and as I just learned of it online, it is new news and very sad. The place I took my fiance during our visit in 2010, the place I first thought of for special occasions and that to me was the heart of Geneva of my memories during my years in the area.
I do so hope it rises again. It can't be closed for good.
Cathy Kern Betts
Dina Rodriguez
5:52 pm on Saturday, April 30, 2011
I am very sad to hear of the closing. I told my husband I was pregnant with our first child at Mill Race Inn. It was also a place we were planning on taking our two daughters to this summer as a surprise. It holds many happy memories and it will be sorely missed by many. I agree with Cathy Kern Betts - I do so hope it rises again.
Ted Caul
6:58 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
I just drove by today with my wife of 6 years coming home from our church in Elgin. to Palos Park. I hoped she could have gone there with me, as I had done with my parents over many years. Feeding those loaves to the ducks.
Doris Pasilis
6:33 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
I am wondering if this is Charllie Reumeliotis that owned the "Flaming Torch" years ago. I worked as a waitress for him for years. He was a great guy & well liked by all his customers. I now live in Paradise Ca but at the time when I worked for him I lived in Mt. Prospect. Some of the waitresses at that time were Anita, Judy, Kathy, & myself, Doris. I am sorry to hear of this closing. Many fun times were spent at the "Torch".
Dave
10:38 pm on Monday, May 6, 2013
Call Robert at RESTAURANT IMPOSSIBLE