IU grad opens Chicago-based restaurant on Dunn Street

Neon Wrigleyville and Budweiser signs on the walls shine through the windows of Bloomington’s newest addition to the dining scene. The signs are the only way to spot the restaurant since its outdoor sign was stolen last week. \nA cluster of triangular red and white banners celebrating IU championship basketball teams hang on the walls, and dark wooden tables and chairs line the room, leading up to a window that opens up to the kitchen. Six high definition televisions are mounted high on the walls.\nWelcome to Billy’s Chicago Place.\nOn Monday the restaurant, located at 208 S. Dunn St., opened for business. Owned by 23-year-old IU graduate Billy Fenton, the menu of this Windy City-inspired restaurant features items such as burgers, Italian beef sandwiches and gyros. The main feature is the Chicago-style hot dog, which is covered with mustard, relish, onion, tomato, pickle and peppers.\nWith his brown hair sticking out of a Cubs baseball hat and clad in khaki shorts, a white sweatshirt and blue and white flip-flops, Fenton doesn’t dress like a businessman. But he certainly is one. \nAs an IU student, Fenton realized that many students come from Chicago, but Bloomington didn’t have any restaurants that served food from the city. Because Chicago is about four hours away from Bloomington, Fenton knows many people haven’t tried Chicago-style foods.\nFenton, who studied telecommunications and Spanish, said he has wanted to open a restaurant since his freshman year at IU. He said he is not drawn to a stereotypical office job, which is why he wanted to open a restaurant and bar. He likes working with people and is attracted to the excitement and “craziness” of the business.\nThe restaurant is open Sunday through Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and until 3 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. With only 15 employees, Fenton knows he will be working long hours.\nMost of the employees are students, waitress and senior Amy Larson said. \nAs a recent graduate, Fenton thinks being open late is an attractive feature. Billy’s Chicago Place serves beer from both the Chicago-based Goose Island and the local Upland breweries, as well as several other types of beer. The bar will offer daily specials, including $1 Old Style and Pabst Blue Ribbon on Tuesday nights.\nThe restaurant has about 115 seats, 60 outside and 55 inside. The inside is split into two parts, with one side for all-ages and the other for a bar. In order to thwart underage drinking, no beer will be allowed in the all-ages side after 10 p.m. It will, however, be permitted in the bar and outside areas. After 10 p.m., underage patrons will not be able to sit outside.\nFenton has been planning to open the restaurant since August 2006. He originally hoped to be open the restaurant this August, but construction and permits set him back. The building that houses the hot dog and burger joint used to be the location of Amused! clothing. Because it wasn’t a restaurant before, Fenton said the whole kitchen had to be installed, along with new bathrooms.\n“Everything has blown me away,” Fenton said. “You need a permit to get a permit in this town.”\nWhile the official grand opening won’t take place until Homecoming weekend, Larson said the business is “doing well.” Fenton said between 80 and 100 people visited the restaurant on Monday evening.\nSo far, the only Fenton’s marketing tactics have been flyers and word-of-mouth advertising. He may advertise more later, but for now he’s not worried. \n“There’s no better word of mouth than a college town like Bloomington,” Fenton said.