Elsie’s Place Turns Five
Elsie’s Place Turns Five
2019 marks the 5th anniversary of Elsie’s Place gaming cafés. What began in 2014 in the Chicago suburb of Worth has grown to 11 locations throughout the greater Chicago metropolitan area. We are thankful to the Illinois communities that have partnered with us in this endeavor.
Over the past five years, we have reinvested millions of dollars into local communities by renovating existing spaces to meet the needs for our restaurant operations and gaming machines. Some of our most recent Elsie’s Place sites were major transformations – from outdated and unusable to polished and highly functional. This is not only beneficial to our business but it also helps improve real estate values. Our newest locations, including Elburn and Prospect Heights, provide a larger footprint which adds comfort for customers who are waiting to play.
Gaming In Illinois
When the state of Illinois passed the Video Gaming Act in 2009, Lieberman Companies began developing a business plan which combined gaming and restaurants. The act legalized the use of up to five video gaming terminals (VGTs or slot machines) in licensed retail establishments. The Elsie’s Place concept emerged over the next few years. It was designed to let guests enjoy quality snacks and beverages while playing state-of-the-art slots and video poker games in a relaxed environment. In May 2014, the first location opened in Worth, Illinois. A number of locations followed soon after, including Justice and Waukegan.
Loyal Employees
Several members of our Elsie’s Place team have been with us since the beginning! Chuck Knoblauch, Director of Operations, rejoined Lieberman Companies for the launch of Elsie’s Place. Previously, he was a regional manager for 6 years. In the interim, Chuck was VP of Operations for Blake’s Lotaburger and Krispy Kreme.
Six of our store managers are celebrating 5 years with Elsie’s Place. These 6 team members – Karen Gainer, Theresa Gavalick, Silvia Ibarra, Alyson Jordan, Marcy Reeves, and Jenny Tokarczyk – manage 10 of the 11 locations. They create a welcoming atmosphere and provide exceptional customer service.
“We’re grateful for our excellent team and loyal customers,” says Hal Lieberman, President of Lieberman Companies. “We’re happy to provide a comfortable and friendly gaming destination.”
Anniversary Celebrations
Many of our locations host anniversary celebrations throughout the year. Elsie’s Place Waukegan, located at 1802 N. Lewis Ave, is having a 5th Anniversary Party on October 19-20. Guests can sign up for a chance to win the grand prize of a Blue Chip Casino package. Check out our events page for more information. Better yet, join our email list to stay current on the latest happenings at your neighborhood Elsie’s.
A Growing Business
Elsie’s Place currently operates 11 locations. See our full list here. We are actively looking to expand and grow our market footprint. Lieberman Companies is a 4th generation family-owned company and has had numerous business relationships in Chicagoland over the past 45 years. Our goal is to continue adding Elsie’s Place gaming cafés in the area.