Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 645 Joliet Road Willowbrook, DuPage County, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Built | 1946 |
| Architect | Eugene F. Stoyke |
| Architectural style | No particular style |
| MPS | Route 66 through Illinois MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000375 |
| Added to NRHP | May 5, 2006 |
Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket is a famous restaurant in Willowbrook, Illinois. It sits right along the historic U.S. Route 66. This old road is sometimes called "America's Main Street." The restaurant is known for its delicious fried chicken. It has been a popular stop for travelers for many years. Today, it is near Interstate 55.
Contents
A Restaurant with a Story
How It All Began
The Chicken Basket started small in the late 1920s. It was just a lunch counter inside a gas station. The owner, Irv Kolarik, sold sandwiches there. He liked the lunch counter more than the gas station.
In 1938, two local farm women visited Irv's gas station. They heard him say he preferred running the lunch counter. They offered him a secret fried chicken recipe. They also said they would work for him. Irv agreed, and the chicken was a huge hit!
Growing Bigger
Soon, the small lunch counter wasn't big enough. Irv turned the gas station's old repair bays into dining rooms. This became known as the National Chicken Basket. But even that wasn't enough space.
By the mid-1940s, Irv needed a brand new building. He bought the land next door. He hired an architect named Eugene F. Stoyke. The new, full-service restaurant and cocktail lounge opened in 1946.
A Popular Stop
The new Chicken Basket was close to Chicago. This helped it become very popular. In 1936, it became a bus stop for Bluebird Coach Lines. People could get off the bus and eat.
Customers also loved to sit by the windows. They could watch airplanes taking off and landing. This was because Hinsdale Airport was right across the street.
Irv Kolarik was also great at getting attention for his restaurant. In the winter, he would flood the roof. Then, he would hire local kids to ice skate on top! This brought even more people to see the place.
Changes on the Road
In 1956, a new cocktail lounge wing was added. This was the last big change to the building. But bigger changes were coming to the roads.
In the 1950s, the Interstate Highway System was built. New superhighways like I-55 were created. These new roads bypassed old ones like Route 66. This meant less traffic passed by the Chicken Basket.
New Owners, Same Great Taste
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Irv Kolarik kept the restaurant open for many years. But as traffic moved to the interstate, business slowed down. Eventually, a local bank took over the restaurant. They kept it running until a new buyer was found.
In 1963, a businessman named Delbert 'Dell' Rhea bought the restaurant. He already owned another place down the street. Dell kept the Chicken Basket's menu and name. He just added his own name to it.
Dell's son, Patrick, grew up working in the restaurant. After Dell passed away in 1992, Patrick took over. In 2019, the Lombardi family bought the restaurant. They promised to keep the original recipe and friendly service.
A Famous Landmark
The Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket building is very special. Its classic neon sign is also famous. On May 5, 2006, both were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.
The restaurant was also featured on a TV show. It appeared on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. This show visits unique and popular restaurants across the country.
