What will become of these vacant landmark restaurants in the metro-east?
Business continues to evolve throughout the region as new restaurants announce plans to open at familiar locations. This year, there has been significant activity on Belleville’s West Main Street in particular.
For example, an Alton business’ plans to bring Olga’s Kitchen menu items to the former 4204 Main Street Brewing Company. Also coming soon is a new barbecue place at the former Steak ‘n Shake.
I Don’t Know Restaurant & Grill, located at 4004 W. Main St., opened in a former Taco Bell that operated from February 1977 until September 2004.
The idea of new establishments opening in old restaurant spaces prompted reflection on some restaurants that closed years ago—and what has become of those buildings.
Here is a look at four properties, all former restaurants with long histories in the metro-east. They have me wondering: What will become of them?
Ramon’s El Dorado
1711 Saint Louis Road, Collinsville
Family-owned and operated, Ramon’s El Dorado was founded in 1967 by Raymundo Otero. The business began after he and his wife, Estella, sold traditional Mexican food out of the family car.
The restaurant at 1711 Saint Louis Road was constructed in 1970, according to property records.
Raymundo Otero died in March 2016 after battling Alzheimer’s disease. His children, Carlos Otero Sr. and Carmen Rojas, continued running the business.
The restaurant temporarily closed in spring 2022 while Otero Sr. faced health issues. Following Otero Sr.’s successful surgery, the family announced in June 2022 that Ramon’s would reopen with limited hours.
However, by September of that year, the restaurant closed again and has not reopened.
Property records for 1711 Saint Louis Road show that it was acquired by Gazmend Rushiti in December 2024. Rushiti owns and operates multiple Illinois establishments with his wife, Luleta, and has also been involved with restaurants in Texas and Florida.
The former Ramon’s building was recently painted, and the parking lot was resurfaced and lined.
It is not currently known what is planned for the former Mexican restaurant, but updates will be provided as information becomes available.
McDonald’s
4422 W. Main St., Belleville
West Belleville’s McDonald’s closed March 31, 2023, after more than 60 years in business.
The West Main Street restaurant was Belleville’s first McDonald’s, opening in October 1961 under the ownership of Don Shay. The following year, the business was taken over by its second owner, Dave Embry.
Modifications were made to the original restaurant. In 1974, an indoor dining area was added, and drive-thru service was introduced three years later.
In later years, another owner planned to remove the vintage golden arch when the original restaurant was to be demolished and replaced with a new building.
In 1996, then-owner Bob Bonner told the News-Democrat the new restaurant would include an indoor play area. The existing location remained open as the new one was built on the west parking lot. After months of public backlash over the decision regarding the original arch, Bonner decided to keep it, despite an additional $15,000 expense compared to a new sign.
The sign remained until days after the restaurant’s permanent closing, when the landmark golden arch was dismantled and removed by a local sign company.
The property at 4422 W. Main St. is listed for sale. However, there is a deed restriction prohibiting the sale of food and beverage for 20 years.
Eric Schauster, Belleville’s assistant director of economic development, planning and zoning, said such a restriction is not uncommon in the food industry.
“It definitely limits what we [the city] can do to attract interest,” he said. “That’s the hand we’re dealt. We have to deal with it.”
For information about the property, visit l3corp.net.
IHOP
601 Carlyle Ave., Belleville
In April 1973, St. Clair County’s mapping and platting department issued a permit to developer Don Soffer for the construction of a $100,000 restaurant at 601 Carlyle Ave., according to a News-Democrat article.
The restaurant, constructed on property annexed by Soffer, was a franchise of the International House of Pancakes, better known today as IHOP. It became Belleville’s second IHOP, joining an existing location at 4524 W. Main St., which was owned by William and Bobbie Cuker and opened in 1970.
The Carlyle Avenue location opened in 1973. Ownership changed over the years, including in September 1987, when Michael and Sherry Henry became the new owners. The couple operated the Belleville restaurant and a Clayton, Missouri, location for 25 years.
The restaurant’s last owner was Mohammad Youseff, whose retirement was announced in February 2018 by his real estate agent, John L. Eichenlaub. Youseff’s plans were to retire in August that year.
Eichenlaub told the BND at that time the closure was not related to parent company Dine Brands Global’s plans to close 30 to 40 IHOP locations that year.
After 45 years in operation, IHOP on Carlyle Avenue closed Aug. 29, 2018.
The vacant property is still listed for sale with a price tag of $299,000.
Fortel’s Pizza Den
10716 Lincoln Trail, Fairview Heights
St. Louis-based Fortel’s Pizza Den announced in summer 2003 it would open its first metro-east location at 10716 Lincoln Trail in Fairview Heights. The restaurant opened Dec. 15, 2003, according to a BND report, and closed Feb. 16, 2019.
Charlie DiMercurio, one of the owners of the franchise group that included the Fortel’s Fairview Heights location, told the News-Democrat at the time that he and his partners bought the building from Le Tan Toan Inc.
The previous owner operated a Chinese restaurant at the site before leasing it to another eatery, Mega Family Restaurant.
The restaurant was originally built in 1970. Past businesses at the location include Canty’s Lounge & Restaurant (1970–1973) and Jacks or Better (1973–1979), which became The Ground Round in early 1979 and operated until around 1985.
In September 1987, the Fairview Heights City Council unanimously approved David Yan’s plan to open a Cantonese restaurant, Yan Dynasty. The restaurant opened in November 1987 and celebrated a grand reopening in summer 1995 following a remodel.
Yan Dynasty closed between November 1999 and spring 2000. In May 2000, an exterior remodel was nearly complete in preparation for Mega Family Restaurant, which opened that December and closed around 2002–03.
DiMercurio’s franchise group, listed as Southern Illinois Pizza Inc. in St. Clair County property records, sold the property in September 2022 to JB Realty Investment Inc.
If information regarding the property’s future becomes available, updates will be provided.
Readers, what other vacant restaurant properties do you want to know about? Share your comments and questions by emailing jgreen@bnd.com.
