Overview
- Local restaurateur Paulo Villabona, 50, closed the purchase on Saturday with two family members as silent partners.
- He plans a December reopening at 4914 N. Milwaukee Ave., returning the signature baby back ribs through the acquired recipes.
- Villabona said he will rehire several former employees and will honor outstanding Gale Street Inn gift cards.
- Former owner George Karzas attributed the June closure to difficulty hiring staff after a remodel, with pricing pressures noted as a key risk.
- Leaders at the Copernicus Center and nearby Rex Tavern welcomed the plan, anticipating a boost to neighborhood foot traffic.