History
Since the first Egg Harbor Café opened in Hinsdale on December 28, 1985, a growing base of wonderful customers have encouraged us to develop and expand. Now in our 27th year, Egg Harbor Café in 2012 is comprised of 15 restaurants and a new Harbor Express Cafe in the greater Chicago area, as well as new Egg Harbor Cafe locations in Johns Creek and Sandy Springs, Georgia near Atlanta.
From the first crack of an egg at Hinsdale in December 1985, Egg Harbor relied primarily on the word-of-mouth recommendations that new customers enthusiastically provided. In October 1986, a second Egg Harbor Café opened its doors in Lake Forest. When the third Egg Harbor Cafe opened in Arlington Heights in June 1988, it too became a community favorite.
In a 1992 growth spurt, the company launched three new restaurants in Wheaton, Barrington and Glenview. In 1996, Egg Harbor Café opened in Yorktown Center and Naperville. Restaurant #9 opened its doors in Lincolnshire in September 1998. In 2003, a new triad of Egg Harbor Café’s took flight when stores opened in Elmhurst, The Glen and Geneva. The next big growth year for Egg Harbor Café came in 2007 with the Wheaton store’s move to a new downtown location and a new restaurant in Rockford. The next three Egg Harbor Cafés began welcoming guests within a year of each other: downtown Downers Grove in February 2008; Lake Geneva, WI in April 2008; and Libertyville in January 2009. 2011 saw the opening of a new quick casual concept called Harbor Express Cafe in Wheaton. Most recently, Egg Harbor Cafe moved south into the Atlanta, Georgia region, hatching two new locations, Johns Creek in 2011 and Sandy Springs in 2012.
Key to Egg Harbor’s growth has been the central belief that people – our customers and employees – are the company’s most valuable resource. This core principle consistently guides the development of great management teams and service standards that create Egg Harbor Café’s hallmark breakfast and lunch experience. Customer loyalty is the cherished result of our focus on excellent relationships. In addition, employee turnover is low at Egg Harbor – numerous employees have been with us for over a decade, providing the team excellence that boosts quality and service at all 18 Egg Harbor Café locations.
Egg Harbor Café’s friendly and attentive service adds to the warm, casual ambiance that consistently welcomes guests, whether first-time visitors or long-time friends. Egg Harbor Café is well known for its country-style décor that features chickens, eggs and country artwork collected with love and care. The relaxed, inviting atmosphere attracts a broad range of guests – business men and women, families with young children, groups of teens, book clubs, bridal showers, friends, neighbors and more – all types of people and groups have become loyal, valued Egg Harbor Café customers.
And of course guests return again and again for the consistently fresh, high quality and beautifully presented food that is an Egg Harbor Café mainstay. Whether in the mood for a traditional breakfast, a variation on the original, or a unique Egg Harbor Café creation, our guests have an extensive selection of breakfast and lunch creations, and something is always sure to please. In addition, the kids menu offers a variety of child-friendly choices along with games and a coloring contest for our younger guests.
At Egg Harbor Café, relationships, ambiance and quality food have been a recipe for success… and will always be the central ingredients in our commitment to you.