A New Peppermint Stick

If you haven’t been to downtown historic Long Grove, it’s worth a visit.

Situated near Routes 53 and 83, the unique shops and restaurants occupy the original homes and buildings built there in the early 1800’s. According to their village website, “By 1880 Long Grove was a thriving village with two general stores, two blacksmiths, two wagon and carriage shops, a tavern (which is still in operation), a hotel, a creamery, three churches, and four one-room schools.”

One place that I frequented with my kids when they were little was an ice creamery and restaurant called The Peppermint Stick. This shop was owned and operated by the Coveny family of Long Grove as of 1992 although the shop dates back to 1912.

Susan Coveny, matriarch of the family and successful realtor with RE/MAX Prestige, says when her husband passed away in 2005, it was too much to carry on with the restaurant.  For the past five years, a Mexican restaurant occupied the space until Susan and her family decided what to do with the shop.  

Fortunately for all of us, Susan and her two daughters Mindy Cain and Penny Silich decided to reopen The Peppermint Stick. All of three of them have various reasons behind wanting to take on this new challenge.

Susan really wanted to create a “happy place for people to go to with good food and reasonable prices”. She said that although she is busy as ever in real estate, it’s a sad economic time and people are moving because they have to, not because they want to.  She hopes that having this shop reopen will help revitalize downtown Long Grove and residents will go there for a quick breakfast with the kids or lunch with the girls.

Mindy and Penny almost were verbatim in their reasons for partnering with their mom on this. Both of them are filled with warm, loving memories of working there with their dad and want the shop to reopen in his honor. “We’re doing it for our dad.”

With local chef Antonio Cardenas revving up the kitchen and menu, things are sure to be tasty. Some breakfast items include pancakes, eggs and stuffed French toast. For lunch there will be green salads, three sizes of burgers, hand cut fries, homemade soups, tuna and a great kids menu. Of course there will be the homemade ice cream, milkshakes, brown cows and old-fashioned Egg Creams. 

The inviting atmosphere when you walk in makes you feel right at home. With penny candy for sale and the original marble counter still standing, this is a place you want to come back to over and over again.

Susan has such passion for this project. “It’s exciting to do something new and refreshing while making other people happy.

The Peppermint Stick had a soft opening this past week and should be in full swing by Apple Fest this coming weekend September 30th - October 2nd.  Please let me know if you try it and tell me what you think!

As always, email me with any news, topics or ideas that you want to read about. Remember, I’d like to be the first to know! I can be reached at laurenbgpatch@aol.com.