Cottage on Dixie abruptly closes, owner seeks break and a buyer

A well loved Homewood farm-to-table eatery has closed its doors, leaving a void for diners seeking organic, locally sourced ingredients and creative, upscale dishes.

The announcement from The Cottage on Dixie came late Sunday evening via a Facebook post that read: “To our loyal customers… thank you. We have had bumps & bruises. We have had amazing food & ok food.. we have tried to accommodate you all. We cannot do it any more. Thank you for your business!! Please support our other food establishments here!”

Owner Glenna Elvery replied to many of the commenters who expressed sadness, which numbered close to 300 by late morning, by simply saying, “Thank you.”

The restaurant, located at 18849 Dixie Highway, was featured on a February 2015 episode of WTTW’s show “Check, Please!” Reviewers gave it good marks, calling it “a great dining experience in the south suburbs with a wonderful wait staff and a pleasant atmosphere.”

 
The business was known for being heavily involved in the community and for its efforts to cater to a variety of dietary needs and preferences.

Elvery, who has owned the business for six-and-a-half-years, said that she’s simply exhausted and wanting to see more of her grandchildren.

“That’s very hard to do in running a business like this,” she said. 

 
There have been efforts recently to find a buyer for the restaurant, but Elvery has not had success in finding one. Ideally, Elvery says she’d like to find a buyer, leaving the place in good hands and knowing that Homewood would still have a nice place for people to eat. If that were to happen, she and her husband would like to be closer to their family in Tennessee.

Fans can find comfort knowing there is a glimmer of hope of a possible re-opening by the current owner. Elvery isn’t ruling out coming back and continuing to run the restaurant. She’ll see where things go after she takes a break. 

 
“It’s in the process of restructuring. Frankly, I’m exhausted and need some time off and would love to spend time with my grandchildren,” she said.

“I would love it if people would support all of the local restaurants because everyone needs help and if you want them to be there for you, you need to go there and spend your money. We thank everyone for thinking of us. It’s all very in flux right now. I know it’s pretty vague, but it’s the best I’ve got.”