CHICAGO – Baum Realty Group, LLC is excited to announce that Dotty’s Café, a proven restaurant and gaming café from the West, is expanding in Illinois. With over 150 locations in Nevada, Oregon, and Montana, Dotty’s Café has begun its expansion in Illinois, including their first flagship Illinois restaurant at 2541 W. North Avenue in Melrose Park. Dotty’s currently has 15 stores built out, awaiting licensure from the Illinois Gaming Board, and Dotty’s has executed leases on another 20 locations which are in various stages of build-out and licensure. Dotty’s expects to open more than 150 locations in Illinois over the next several years. No other business currently has plans to open more new retail locations in Illinois than Dotty’s.
Founded in Oregon in 1992, as an alternative to the traditional sports bar/restaurant concept, Dotty’s Café offers a warm and inviting atmosphere with country classic charm, just like Grandma’s kitchen. The rotating food menu offers established favorites, and a wide selection of beer and wine. Typically located in major shopping centers with national chains and ample parking, their co-tenants such as CVS, Walmart, Walgreen’s and Food 4 Less, welcome the cafes which are proven demand drivers and typically boost the revenues for their co-tenants.
“Dotty’s is unlike any other establishment in the Midwest and I think it will be a game changer,” says CEO, Dan Fischer. “We are excited to do business in Illinois. The Dotty’s Café experience will be new for Illinois residents, and our twenty year track record proves that it will be a huge success.”
Unlike traditional casino gaming operations which often encourage alcohol consumption, Dotty’s Café’s offer a relaxing environment where alcohol isn’t the main draw – in fact, consumption of coffee and soda outpaces alcohol by a factor of twenty to one. This honest approach allows customers to enjoy both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks with many customers simply enjoying the coffee and eating breakfast, lunch or dinner while visiting with friends.
Expansion plans throughout Illinois have started with suburban Cook County and the rest of the collar counties, including multiple locations in some cities. Many Illinois municipalities are eager to see the cafés open as tight municipal budgets are already feeling relief as gaming revenues started accumulating last year. Under Illinois’ thoughtfully crafted gaming legislation, both the State and the municipalities receive substantial tax receipts off of gaming revenues from locations which permit video gambling, like Dotty’s. According to the Illinois Gaming Board, in just the first six months of 2013, the State received more than $27.1 million in gaming tax revenue, while municipalities received more than $5.4 million.
Dotty’s is represented in Illinois by Baum Realty Group brokers Dan Molnar and Nicole Cardot. “We are actively scouting busy shopping center locations and outlets across Chicagoland,” said Molnar. “We’re currently in final lease negotiations with another 25 landlords, but we’re still seeking additional locations.” Added Cardot.
ABOUT DOTTY’S CAFÉ
Dotty’s is “the best bet in the gambling business”. The business model began in Oregon in 1992, as an alternative concept to a traditional sports bar or restaurant. Dotty’s offers affordable comfort food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with a variety of drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Dotty’s currently has over 150 locations in major shopping areas in Nevada, Oregon and Montana. For more information, visit www.DottysCafe.com, or email [email protected].
ABOUT BAUM REALTY GROUP
Baum Realty Group is one of the Midwest’s premier retail real estate firms, serving the retail community since 1991. BRG provides comprehensive Tenant Representation, Third-Party Landlord Leasing and Investment Sales services. The company represents a diversified clientele of top property owners as well as prestigious national, regional and local tenants. For more information, visit them at www.baumrealty.com, or call 312.666.3000.