The Homewood Board of Trustees voted on Sept. 24 to support a Cook County Class 8 property tax relief designation for a new restaurant at 18031 Dixie Highway that is expected to open soon.

Caterer David Mitchell and Chris Michaels plan to open Mitchell and Michaels Plat Du Jour in the space formerly occupied by Culture Food & Entertainment. 

Mitchell addressed the board in July when he applied for a liquor license, which the board also supported. He said he has been in the food business for 47 years and currently operates Catering with David, which will continue at the new location. 

“You name it, I can do it,” he said. 

He said Michaels would be in charge of entertainment, which will include comedy shows.
Wealth Center LLC of Oak Park owns the building and will benefit from the property tax incentive. 

The Class 8 designation is used to help redevelop vacant commercial or industrial properties and applies to Bloom, Bremen, Rich, Thornton and Calumet townships. Qualified properties are assessed at 10% of market value for 10 years, 15% for the 11th year and 20% for the 12th year. The designation can be renewed once for an additional 10 years.

Class 8 benefits are designed to compensate for Cook County’s high property tax rate, which can impede business development for communities competing with nearby lower-tax areas, according to village officials.

In a memo to the board, Homewood Economic and Community Development Director Angela Mesaros noted the property taxes “without an incentive would be approximately $41,841 annually. With a Class 8 incentive, property taxes will be reduced to $20,311 annually.” She said the restaurant plans to add five construction jobs, 10 permanent full-time jobs and 10 permanent part-time jobs.

At the Homewood Business Association meeting on Oct. 1, Mesaros said Mitchell’s catering business is operating from the location now, and she believes the restaurant will be opening soon, although she did not have a specific date.

New boost