Italian House plans move to nearby vacated Hardee's
Podcast Episode
Kyle Geissler talks with Janesville Gazette business editor Jim Leute about Italian House moving to a new property.
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With the closure of the Hardee’s restaurant on the corner of Randall Avenue and East Racine Street in Janesville over the weekend, Italian House restaurant owner Edmund Halabi says he would like to move his eatery into the empty building.
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Hardee's restaurant on the corner of E. Racine St. and Randall Ave. near Craig High School has closed.
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Edmund Halabi
JANESVILLE — A popular eastside Janesville restaurant is moving, but its followers won’t have to go far to find it.
Edmund Halabi, owner of the Italian House Restaurant at 463 S. Randall Ave., is buying the Hardee’s on East Racine Street that closed its doors over the weekend.
The Hardee’s property is next door to Halabi’s restaurant, which for years has been a daily lunch routine for underclassmen at Craig High School.
After he buys the property later this month, Halabi will remodel the store’s interior and exterior. His capacity—best described as cramped on Randall Avenue—will double, and he’ll have a coveted drive-up window when the new restaurant opens this summer.
After 20 years of steady growth, the new location is a dream for Halabi, who first opened his restaurant for a short stint on Milton Avenue.
“I can remember when we started, my wife and I and our young child sleeping on the floor, hoping we’d never see another bounced check,” he said. “I never dreamed I’d be in this position, but it’s been a success over time.”
Halabi rattles off the statistics on the difficulty in running a restaurant, particularly a small family operation. He, too, came close to bankruptcy in the Italian House’s infancy.
“My problem was that Janesville didn’t grow up with a culture for Italian food,” he said. “I was trying to sell Italian to Norwegians and Germans.
“Everybody kept asking for fish fries, hamburgers and pizza.”
For the last 20 years, Halabi’s niche has been in pasta, Gondola sub sandwiches and bread.
Neighboring Craig students certainly have helped him fill that niche. Each day, between 100 and 150 students flood the Italian House for the daily special, which at $4 is twice as much as it was 20 years ago. With lunch period minutes precious, students are guaranteed their food seconds after ordering
Most of the students are ninth- and tenth-graders, those too young to drive off campus for lunch. Italian House also provides Gondolas to Craig’s in-house lunch program, as well as offerings for programs at several Janesville parochial schools.
In describing his success, Halabi turns the discussion into one about pot roast.
“You grow up eating your mom’s pot roast, and for the rest of your life all other pot roast is compared to your mom’s,” he said. “I’ve been very lucky in that we have a location right next to a high school that has an open campus. Kids have grown up eating our food, grown up loyal to our food, and they continue to come back as adults.
“For two years of their lives, these kids are eating the same sauces and same breads five days a week. They are very dedicated, very loyal.”
Halabi said he won’t lose that personal connection with his customers when the larger restaurant opens.
“My customers have been asking me for some time to expand,” he said. “I think they appreciate seeing a small business blossom over time.
“Nothing too big, too fast.”
May 30, 2008 at 9:30 a.m.
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Love the food, love the owner, fantastic to see small business succeed and congrats
May 30, 2008 at 8:37 a.m.
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I think I signed my name on the main wall at least 2 different times, and my husband & I wrote our names by one of the tables when we first got engaged. We both went to Craig and we both absolutley love this food! Might be a lot of work, but how about using the bricks either for a certain section of the floor? Or maybe a path up to one of the entrances?
May 20, 2008 at 1:52 p.m.
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I probably ate at least 2 miles in Gondolas when in High School. Edmund, you are tops and very deserved of your successes. I just moved back to town and will stop by soon.
May 17, 2008 at 7:26 p.m.
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Fantastic restaurant, fantastic owner, fantastic customers!
May 16, 2008 at 9:23 p.m.
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Thanks everyone for all the positive comments and support. I am looking foward to seeing what ideas are out there for the "Save The Wall". We are working on a few and hope to have it taken care of by next week. We look foward to seeing you all at the NEW I-House, it's gonna look GREAT!!! Edmund
May 16, 2008 at 4:54 p.m.
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I have grown up in Janesville, went to school at Craig and just recently purchased a house about a block away from Craig. I would just like to say that I grew up eating Italian House and my name is even written on the wall. I absolutely love the food and the atmosphere. I would be so sad if Italian House moved farther away. We probably eat Italian House at least once or twice a week. We love it and it is now apart of a past time with my new family. I cannot wait to be able to pick it up through the drive through and still be able to walk there. I am excited. Congrats and please don't ever move.
May 15, 2008 at 9:12 a.m.
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Do they still have the family meal? The one with the gondola and a ton of spaghetti, and I believe garlic bread? When I come visit the folks for Xmas, I will have to make sure to get one of those.
May 14, 2008 at 6:41 p.m.
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Congrats Ed on your 20 years!! I am so impressed by your loyal fans. You can tell they really love your food and think very highly of you also. Bernie says he is going to call Bobby Flay and challenge you to a throwdown! (Bobby is on the food network)
You also have a wonderful wife and children that have been by your side through your journey. We can't wait to see your new place.
Lots of luck in years to come.
Kathy, Bernie, Jennifer, Tonia and Chad
May 14, 2008 at 12:43 p.m.
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(I meant customer base)
May 14, 2008 at 12:42 p.m.
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What really impresses me are the 32 comments (so far) without any negetivity. Mr. Halabi obviously has a very loyal fan base...and my wife also is exited about drive through gondolas.
May 14, 2008 at 11:12 a.m.
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I can't say enough about this guy (or anything, for that matter that hasn't been said). Thanks for the free bread, Edmund. My sister and I make it a point to eat here every time we're back in town (she lives in Paris). Cheers.
May 14, 2008 at 9:08 a.m.
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I love Italian House!!!! I work in Beloit and often stop there to get supper for myself and a co-worker. One time there was a mistake with our order and Edmund drove down to Beloit to deliver our correct order. We really appreciated that. Above and beyond... You are the greatest, and I wish you all the success you deserve in the future...
May 14, 2008 at 7:46 a.m.
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Well deserved success. Edmund is always happy to see his customers and the food is great.
May 14, 2008 at 7:32 a.m.
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Good Job!
May 13, 2008 at 9:08 p.m.
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Hey, there's some vacant buildings on West Court Street; I would LOVE to some day see an expansion of the restaurant over here. The food, atmosphere, and service are wonderful at the Italian House. Congratulations and keep the west-siders in mind for the future!
May 13, 2008 at 7:58 p.m.
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Great news...Edmund is a real class act. Now, serve a little wine and I'd be there constantly! Love your food!
May 13, 2008 at 7:43 p.m.
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Well, I have only eaten at the Itailian house a couple of times being I don't live in town, but with all the great comments dedicated to Edmund, I certainly am going to make an effort to frequent his new rest. The love for this man and his business make me feel as if I HAVE to meet him.... Congrats Itailian House!!
May 13, 2008 at 6:03 p.m.
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Congrats Ed!!
So great how far you have come in the last 20 years. I love when I come to visit-and I come to your restaurant-you always treat me like family. Oh yeah, that's right, I am!!
Maureen, Dean, Nick, and Sam
May 13, 2008 at 5:42 p.m.
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Yippee! Drive thru Italian House, AWESOME! I always parked at Hardees anyway to go to Italian House!! I'm not surprised that Hardees closed. I noticed there were not alot of cars there, EVER! Maybe the High School kept it going for awhile, but I stopped going due to the high prices for the sameold burgers! I'm so happy for Edmond! He is a great guy, always friendly, always remembers my name, and has great service and food. Good for him!
May 13, 2008 at 5:32 p.m.
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Good move Edmund! You have made many high school memories. Keep it up.
May 13, 2008 at 4:10 p.m.
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Good for you Edmund!!!
May 13, 2008 at 3:47 p.m.
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I graduated from Craig and have since moved to Superior, Wi. Every time I come back to Janesville I make sure I get a chance to go to Italian House! Edmund - you should expand to Superior!! ;)
May 13, 2008 at 3:33 p.m.
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j01603456...... kiki is talking about the brick wall inside the resturant. It is a tradition for the students to sign their name and year they graduate. I did 10 years ago!
May 13, 2008 at 3:13 p.m.
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It saddens me to hear of the hardees closing, I went there alot in high school. I still live 2 blocks from there, and it was nice to be able to get a burger without driving across town. But i also like the itialian house, and am glad that they are expanding.
May 13, 2008 at 2:40 p.m.
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Edmond,
Hope you see this.
I can remember when you were on Milton Ave. I walked in and ordered "Gondola, Extra Meat, Mayo, Mustard". You popped up from behind the counter and said "Your from Bradley". Yep -- sure was. Later -- you moved to the current location and I lived about a block away.
Your Rest. helped me keep a part of my youth alive.
Thanks
May 13, 2008 at 2:11 p.m.
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This is wonderful news! My son and I eat at Italian House at least once a week, and Edmund always treats us as good friends. Congratulations.
May 13, 2008 at 1:28 p.m.
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My best friend and I started going when we were sophomores...we went to Parker. We would go every Tuesday and I fell in love with it. Nothing compares to the food. I'm glad they are expanding now if we could get him to put one by Parker he would be booming for business! I'm so happy for him and his family!
May 13, 2008 at 12:17 p.m.
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This is one of my fav. restaurants. I'm glad that it's finally expanding but staying close still! Congrats to the Halabi's and thank you for all your years!
May 13, 2008 at 11:44 a.m.
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graffiti?? You're kidding right?
May 13, 2008 at 11:37 a.m.
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Drive-thru Gondolas? That's the best thing ever!!
May 13, 2008 at 11:25 a.m.
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Congratulations Edmund! You are a true example of a fine business man and your customers will always be loyal to you. You gave me my first real job, you were the best boss I've ever had, and you are a great friend. I've seen you do so many admirable, caring, and selfless acts through the past 14 years that I've personally known you - and I'm very happy for you in your new adventure to expanding. May God continue to bless the works that you do.
May 13, 2008 at 11:20 a.m.
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Yeah Edmund!!! I am so happy for you. I remember the move into the current building. Some good times were had at the Milton Avenue location. You are a family favorite. Good luck to you and your family.
May 13, 2008 at 10:56 a.m.
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What will happen with all the graffiti currently on the brick walls at the Italian House?
May 13, 2008 at 10:50 a.m.
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Congratulations on the expansion!
My sister & I came in recently one very rainy eveing.
We appreciated the coziness. Wish you could incorporate that aspect in the new place.
It's just a nice walk down the street for the neighbors.
Thanks for being there,
May 13, 2008 at 10:16 a.m.
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We live within walking distance,so when I was busy my boys would walk there to eat. I'm glad they are growing and doing well . I'll have to stop and take some pictures of the wall :)
May 13, 2008 at 10 a.m.
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CONGRATS, Edmund! Your famous sauce is in such demand by former students/customers who are now spread throughout the world that they would be VERY appreciative if it could be mass-marketed so they could purchase it elsewhere. With their first jobs at Italian House, you have helped many students expand their future possibilities. Best wishes in the new location to one of Janesville's finest examples of an admirable local business and exempliary small restauranteur!
May 13, 2008 at 9:19 a.m.
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I can't believe Hardees didn't make it there. I remember going there when I was in school it was always packed. But the prices were a lot less then it is now. Well I'm glad Italian House is going there yummy I love that place so two thumbs up it's one of the better places of janesville and the people are very friendly!
May 13, 2008 at 9:11 a.m.
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Well.... I have to say that I'm not surprised by Hardee's closing. Still, I grew up going to that Hardee's as well as the Italian House, so it saddens me. I have a lot of friends who have worked there and I have many memories of that restaurant. Hopefully the Italian House does well, and hopefully they bring over their wall panels full of signatures from Craig High School students.
May 13, 2008 at 9:06 a.m.
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That's sweet. Next time I am in town, I will have to stop by the new place. I can't believe the Hardees went out of business. I figured it would be the last Hardees to go under with the high school to support it.
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