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‘It’s hard to say goodbye’: Petey’s Bungalow in Oak Lawn closes after 63 years
Petey’s Bungalow, a beloved Oak Lawn supper club, is closing its doors for good after 63 years of serving the community.
OAK LAWN, Ill. - Petey’s Bungalow, a beloved Oak Lawn supper club, has closed its doors after 63 years of serving the community.
The restaurant has been a cornerstone of the suburb, where generations of customers have celebrated birthdays, engagements, anniversaries, and other special occasions. The time, however, has come for owner Petey Kattos, 91, to retire—marking the end of an era for the family-run business.
"It’s hard for all of us, it really is, it’s hard to say goodbye," said Maureen Morrison, hostess at Petey’s Bungalow. "He’s having a hard time saying goodbye, too. People need to know that he loves them and appreciates them."
Kattos, originally from Greece, opened the restaurant with his late wife, Mary, in pursuit of the American dream. Since Mary’s passing last year, Kattos has continued to run the restaurant, but recently decided it was time to say ‘farewell.’
"He's amazing, and he is still running the broiler today," said Morrison.
Petey's Bungalow to close after 63 years in Oak Lawn
After serving the Oak Lawn community for 63 years, Petey’s Bungalow Restaurant & Lounge will close its doors for good.
On Tuesday, Oct. 15, the iconic neon sign outside of Petey’s Bungalow was turned on once more. There, a line of loyal customers waited for the restaurant to open its doors – one final time.
"It’s family here, our customers are our family. It’s like a second home," said Sandy Duleba-Meyer, server at Petey’s Bungalow.
Inside, the staff—many of whom have worked at Petey’s for decades—greeted familiar faces and reminisced with patrons one last time.
"I’m thrilled to death for the man that has spent his life standing over this grill," said Oak Lawn Mayor Terry Vorderer, who is also a longtime patron.
Mayor Vorderer shares that Petey is the hardest working man he knows, and Petey’s staff will agree.
"He’s got a mind that is unbelievably sharp, he remembers everything—everybody’s names, everybody’s order, what they’ve been eating for the past 60 years," said Morrison.
Morrison's story at the steakhouse and seafood restaurant began when she was in high school; her mother worked at Petey’s Bungalow.
"And I came home, and my dad said, ‘your mom called, Petey needs a hostess, put on a skirt and take the bus,’" said Morrison.
She did just that—and it’s been 51 years since then.
While the neon signed glowed for the last time on the corner of 95th Street and Kostner Avenue, customers laughed and cried. While times are changing, their memories will last forever.
"Me and my friend would come here and have a hamburger and fries after every meeting [in high school]," said Michael Saracini, customer.
Together, they raised a glass to decades of memories with one another – over which time a bond formed between the Kattos family, their employees, and the people who kept coming back for more.
"We’ve become friends, we’ve all been to weddings and birthdays, we saw everyone grow up," said Duleba-Meyer.
"It’s been my pleasure serving them, wish them all the best of luck and I’ll see a lot of them in the future," said Michael Asikin, bartender at Petey’s Bungalow.
"To all the customers, people that come here, to Petey and his family, thanks for the memories," said Carolyn Fry, another employee.
Mayor Vorderer tells FOX 32 Chicago that a menu from Petey’s Bungalow was delivered to the local library, where it will forever remain part of the village's history.
Petey closed his kitchen at 9 p.m. Tuesday—marking the end of this chapter in Oak Lawn.