Elgin's Jeff Turner closes sandwich shop to run Dream Foods
Elgin restaurateur Jeff Turner has closed his nearly 10-year old sandwich shop on the near west side to focus on a new business partnership that includes running a food business at the new Dream Hall planned downtown.
Turner is partnering with entrepreneur Kevin Echevarria, whose venue at 51 N. Grove Ave. is expected to open in spring. Turner will be president of Dream Foods, whose network comprises an expanded cafe, currently under construction at Gail Borden Public Library, and a Kane County produce distribution hub out of Dream Hall. Turner said he decided to close In the Neighborhood Deli at 185 Edison Ave. last Friday to fully focus on the new venture. His employees will transition to working within Dream Foods, he said.
"My vision for Dream Foods ... is to bring the community and local entrepreneurs together to break bread," Turner said. "That's our mantra."
Echevarria said he and Turner, who have known each other for about a decade, are combining their complementary skills.
"This is kind of an evolution of the things we've been doing on the entrepreneurial side and what he's been doing in the community," Echevarria said. "He has a great foundation of being that community service restaurateur."
Turner is well known in Elgin thanks to free community dinners - including at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day weekend and in summer - he organizes with the help of various donors. His goal is to continue that and offer up to eight more free dinners per year at Dream Hall, he said.
Turner has run the library cafe since 2012 with mostly snacks and pre-made sandwiches. The remodeled cafe, to be called In the Neighborhood Dream Deli and Cafe, will offer a full menu of made-to-order sandwiches, homemade soups, salads and pasta salads - mirroring the menu at the former Edison location - plus locally baked goods. The library cafe has been closed for about three weeks; Turner said he hopes to reopen it Monday and plans to offer delivery service.
"As an opportunity came with Kevin and myself, we decided to hone our energies there (instead of at the original location)," Turner said. "We reach a lot more of the community down at the library."
Dream Hall also will host at a tap room, pop-up events such as cooking classes, creative workshops and private parties, and the headquarters of Echevarria's Elgin-based umbrella business, PKE Enterprises.
Echevarria said he hopes the city council will approve a liquor license for Dream Hall in February.