A new dining establishment is set to open its doors in Park Ridge in the first half of July. The restaurant, Social 18/Mully's Grill, will offer a variety of culinary experiences. It will feature a full-service sit-down section serving Mediterranean and American cuisine, a fast food-style area specializing in gyros, and a bar area equipped with two golf simulators.
Athan "Tom" Sotos, the majority owner of Social 18/Mully's Grill at 24 Main Street in Park Ridge, received a liquor license from the city after the City Council approved it on June 17. Sotos mentioned that the casual gyros section is similar to the former Wally's Restaurant, which was a well-known establishment in Park Ridge before it closed. The restaurant will have a diverse menu, offering gyros, chicken, skirt steak, ribs, pork kabobs, fried shrimp, and other dishes.
Sotos, a former co-owner of the Tilted Kilt restaurant in Chicago's Loop, was involved in a 2012 civil lawsuit where employees accused the ownership group of creating a "sexually hostile" work environment. Looking back on the past, Sotos emphasized his commitment to preventing such issues at Mully's Grill. "I realized what happened in 2012," Sotos stated. "And there's no chance I would allow something like that to happen again in any of my businesses. We are taking that portion of the restaurant business very seriously."
The 28-point lawsuit from 2012 accused a manager and an unnamed co-owner of inappropriate conduct, including making lewd comments and touching plaintiffs inappropriately. The attorney representing the plaintiffs, Mark Roth, declined to comment on the case's disposition, and court records indicate that the case cannot be re-filed but do not specify whether a settlement was reached.
To ensure a respectful work environment, Sotos plans to implement a human resources department and mandatory sexual harassment training for all workers and managers at Mully's Grill. He mentioned that these precautions were also taken when he became aware of the harassment in 2012.
"We are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all our staff and patrons," Sotos added.
Park Ridge Mayor Marty Maloney expressed his support for Sotos and the new restaurant, highlighting Sotos's positive contributions to the community.
"Mr. Sotos has been a resident of the town for many years and has positively contributed to our community in a number of ways, not the least of which was while serving as a School District 64 Board Member for eight years. I am excited and grateful that he has decided to invest in the community in which he grew up," Maloney said.
"(Sotos) is working to bring his ideas and this restaurant to that section of Main Street, which is important to the city, as we seek to extend the energy of Main Street that is further east of his location. This is an exciting opportunity and I am looking forward to his success."
Mully's Grill, co-owned by Athan "Tom" Sotos, John Sotos, and Bobby Giotakis, aims to provide not only a variety of dining options but also a safe and comforting environment for both customers and staff. With Sotos's pledge to maintain fair working conditions and the community's support, the new restaurant is set to become a significant addition to Park Ridge's dining scene.