The Country House is a restaurant located at 241 W. 55th St. in Clarendon Hills, Illinois. It is known for casual dining, long-standing history, and the “Best Burger” of 2016 as voted by West Suburban Living’s yearly “Best of the West”.
History
The restaurant was opened in 1922 by Emil Kobal. The two-story building served two purposes. The bottom floor was opened as a tavern and small grocery store, whereas the top floor served as his family's home. In the times of prohibition, The Country House remained open to the public, and is rumored to have still served alcoholic beverages to local regulars. The Country House has changed hands twice since its opening. In 1957, Richard Montanelli bought the business for his mother, but it suffered under her declining health. 4 area residents purchased The Country House from Montanelli in 1974, and it underwent extensive renovations under their ownership, including the introduction of a new menu. Their now "famous" burger was featured on this menu. One by one, 3 of the original owners sold their shares to the remaining partner. By 1989, DavidRegnery retained sole ownership. In 1985, a second Country House was opened in Lisle, Illinois. In 1996, a third Country House was opened in Geneva, Illinois. David Regnery died in 2009; however, his 4 siblings and the CEO now own and operate the restaurants according to the traditions established by the original 1974 owners.
Ghost story
In the late 1950s the resident bartender of The Country House was having an affair with a young, attractive blonde woman who frequented the restaurant. One evening she arrived with her young daughter to visit the bartender while he tended to his duties. I fight broke out between the young woman and the bartender. She asked the man to watch her daughter for a short while, but when the man refused, the woman left with her daughter. She then proceeded to kill herself by wrapping her car around a tree just off the road. Her daughter survived. The ghost of the young woman was first seen during the major renovations of 1974. She has been reportedly seen standing near the bar, walking through the dining room, and beckoning to male patrons from an upstairs window. Other than sightings of the apparition, patrons and employees have reported hearing babies crying, pounding on the walls, footsteps, and banging of pots and pans in the kitchen. Another reoccurring even is the jukebox turning on by itself. The haunting was confirmed by Chicago ghost hunterRichard Crowe, who investigated The Country House accompanied by two mediums. The mediums reported the presence of a very attractive young, blonde woman, who seemed to be looking for a person she had loved and lost.
