Longtime Springfield restaurateurs Mike Monseur and John Leskovisek have a new project in the works.
The duo is seeking approval from the Springfield City Council to transfer the liquor license for the Dew Chilli Parlor Pub and Grill located at 301 North Grand Ave. W. to a new restaurant in Prairie Crossing that will be called Lucky Dew.
The space at 4333 Conestoga Dr. is in the strip center across from Meijer and was most recently occupied by a home construction company.
“We have to add a commercial kitchen and another bathroom,” said Leskovisek, who said no firm opening date has been set due to the renovations needed, although the goal is to be ready by the first of the year.
The liquor license transfer request will be on first reading at the Oct. 21 city council meeting, with a final vote scheduled for Nov. 4.
“We’re really looking forward to this next chapter,” said Monseur. “Lucky Dew will feature several of our most-loved classics like tamales and Cheese Coney’s, along with a few nostalgic favorites people have been asking for – including the ham salad sandwich that Joe and Rita served back in the early days of the Dew. We’ll also have video gaming with the latest machines, making it a fun, comfortable spot to enjoy great food, a cold drink and good company.”
Meanwhile, the North Grand restaurant will close once the liquor license transfers. The property is currently listed for sale with Sandy Hamilton of ReMax Professionals at an asking price of $489,900. The 4,601-square-foot building includes the equipment and furnishings.
“We’ve got some folks interested as far as another restaurant, and they would want to open almost immediately,” said Leskovisek, noting the operation is turnkey. “But if that doesn’t work out, we would use it as a commissary kitchen.”
“With new regulations taking effect next year requiring food truck operators to use licensed, brick-and-mortar certified kitchens, we see a real opportunity to provide a fully equipped commercial kitchen and storage facility that supports local businesses,” Monseur said.
“We also envision the facility being used for pop-up restaurants for local chefs to share their creative ideas,” he said.
Monseur and Leskovisek added Dew Chilli Parlor to their portfolio of restaurants in 2017, although the Dew dates back to 1909, when founder Joe Bockelmann served his first bowl of tavern-style chili, using the unconventional spelling of “chilli” in the name of his restaurant.
Monseur and Leskovisek have had the Godfather’s Pizza franchise for central Illinois for more than 20 years, and in January 2024 they converted the Godfather’s Pizza in Chatham to a Dew Chilli Parlor. Two previous Dew Chilli locations in Springfield, South Dirksen Parkway and Wabash Avenue, both closed in 2023, and the owners indicated at the time they were exploring the Chatham and Decatur markets for expansion.
😠 So the north end is losing yet another business. This end of town is becoming a ghost town.