Chicago’s Berghoff Restaurant, one of the nation’s oldest family-owned restaurants, has been sold by one Berghoff to another.
Carlyn Berghoff, the proprietor since assuming control from her parents, Herman and Jan, in 2006, has sold the downtown restaurant to her younger brother, Peter, who currently operates a satellite operation at O’Hare International Airport. Local reports say Carlyn, age 55, is retiring. Her brother’s age is cited as 50.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The fate of the restaurant’s staff is less certain. The restaurant served notice that all 156 staff members would have to re-interview for their jobs.
The restaurant was opened in 1898 by Herman Berghoff and has been passed from one Berghoff to another in the 118 years since. Only once has service been interrupted for any length of time. Carlyn Berghoff closed the restaurant in 2006 for renovations and reopened it two months later with more banquet space and a menu sporting some contemporary touches.
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