Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants is a small Orland Park, Illinois based chain that features a winery, full-service restaurant, tasting room and retail store at each location. There are currently 20 establishments nationwide, found in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin and Virginia. [1][2] The company opened its first restaurant location in Orland Park, Illinois in 2005.[3][4]
History
Founders Tim and Dana McEnery opened their first Cooper’s Hawk in 2005 in Orland Park, Illinois, three years after Tim McEnery, then working in restaurant management, noticed that very few wineries had an on-site restaurant. It became Illinois’ first establishment with a winery and restaurant under the same roof.[5] Since the first opening in Orland Park, 14 other locations have opened across the Midwest and Florida. With five planned openings in 2015, Cooper’s Hawk will have a total of 20 locations, eight of which are in Illinois.[6] By 2014 the company was projected to earn $121 million in revenue.[7]
Restaurant and winery
The Cooper’s Hawk central wine production facility is located in Countryside, Illinois.[8] Each restaurant stores and displays barrels of Cooper’s Hawk wine, where they undergo the aging process from a few months up to 18 months.
Cooper’s Hawk makes almost 60 different wines, and sells only its own wines in its restaurants. The top selling wine is an unusual sparkling almond wine with "[p]owerful aromas of almond cookie, maraschino cherry and nutmeg".[7]
In January 2009 and 2013, Cooper’s Hawk was selected to pour its wines at the Illinois Inaugural Gala in Washington, D.C.[9]
Awards
Cooper’s Hawk has earned a number of awards from various local, national and international wine competitions, including: two Double Gold recognitions for its Italian Barbera wine; the Grand Star Award for the Gewürtztraminer; and the title of “Best U.S. Fruit Wine” from a national wine competition in recognition of its apricot and rhubarb wines. The company was also named "Breakout Brand 2013" and "Hot Concept 2010" Winner by Nation's Restaurant News.[10][11]
In January 2009 and 2013, Cooper’s Hawk was selected to pour its wines at the Illinois Inaugural Gala in Washington, D.C.[9] Cooper's Hawk is listed as one of the best restaurants in Chicago in the book Food Lovers Guide to Chicago: The best restaurants, Markets, & local culinary offerings.[12]
References
- ↑ Parr, Jan. "Cooper's Hawk Coming to Oak Lawn." Chicago Business & Financial News & Analysis. Crain Communications, Inc., 14 Mar. 2014.
- ↑ Cooper, Rebecca. "Cooper’s Hawk Winery comes to Ashburn and other new restaurant news" Washington Business Journal. American City Business Journals, 17 Jun. 2014.
- ↑ Yoshitsugu, Sachiko. "Fast Fifty No. 9: Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants." Crain's Chicago Business, 04 June 2012.
- ↑ Davis, Andrea Muirragui (December 11, 2010). "DINING: Drinks or not, Cooper's Hawk Winery shines". Indianapolis Business Journal.
- ↑ Reiley, Laura. "Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants opens it first Florida location." Tampa Bay Times, Times Publishing Company, April 16, 2013.
- ↑ Yoshitsugu, Sachiko. "Fast Fifty No. 9: Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants." Crain Communications, Inc., 04 June 2012.
- 1 2 Lettie Teague, "Tim McEnery: The Daredevil Behind Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants", The Wall Street Journal, December 12, 2014.
- ↑ Pankey, Deborah. "Cooper's Hawk Soars with Creative Cuisine, House-made Wines." Daily Herald. Paddock Publications, Inc., 12 June 2012. Web.
- ↑ Swanson, Lorraine. "Oak Lawn Signs Cooper's Hawk at Stony Creek Promenade." Oak Lawn Patch, Patch Media. March 12, 2014.
- ↑ Lang, Alexia. "Wine and Dine at Cooper's Hawk Winery." The Vignette Kansas City, Online Newspaper. January 12, 2013.
- ↑ Olivera, Jennifer (December 3, 2013). Food Lovers Guide to Chicago: The best restaurants, Markets, & local culinary offerings. Globe Pequot. ISBN 0762792027.