Restaurant Revisited: Caseyville Cafe by Maria Russo in Shows, March 13th, 2013
Although mother-daughter duo Diane Emery and Robin Gordon had no previous experience in the restaurant industry, together they purchased Caseyville Cafe in Caseyville, Ill., more than three years ago. At one point their eatery was making enough money to simply break even with its costs, but it soon turned into a failing venture, with more than $6,000 being lost every month. Just months away from shutting down their business entirely, the ladies looked to Robert Irvine for a complete Restaurant: Impossible overhaul. It soon became clear to Robert that this “dirty, dysfunctional” space was in need of not simply an aesthetic transformation, but also vast changes to its menu and management. In two days and with only $10,000, he worked with Diane and Robin to revamp all aspects of Caseyville Cafe, which ultimately reopened with crowd-pleasing food and a roomful of satisfied customers. We checked in with Robin a few months after Robert left to find out how her business is doing today.
Since its Restaurant: Impossible debut, Caseyville Cafe has had an increase in business. Although they’re still working to manage supply costs, Robin and Diane are slowly minimizing their debt.
Much of the front-of-house staff remains at the restaurant, and the servers are now taking better care of their customers. Diane and Robin still struggle with gossip among the servers, but Robin notes that her mother “has been trying to improve” in her communications with the staff. “My mother has been spending more time at the cafe. She has been doing the majority of the management,” she tells us.
Robin adds that “the food has improved and is consistent” at Caseyville. The restaurant is now featuring both its original menu and Robert’s new offerings, but Robin says that “the ribeye and asparagus have been a success.”
Looking back on her Restaurant: Impossible experience, Robin believes its most-valuable result to be the effect it has had on Diane. “I think Robert has finally made my mother realize that she needs to take the cafe more seriously or else it will close,” she explains.
More From Restaurant Revisited:
Maniaci’s Italian Bistro (March 10)
Dinner Bell Restaurant (February 27)
Nanny Goat’s Cafe & Feed Bin (February 20)
Sapori D’Italia (January 23)
Windseeker Restaurant (January 16)
Whiskey Creek Steakhouse (January 2)
Rising Sun Bistro (December 19)
Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Missouri (December 9)
Bronk’s Bar and Grill (December 5)
Rohrer’s Tavern (November 28)
Poco’s on the Boulevard (November 21)
Oleander Bar and Grill (October 17)
Valley Inn (October 10)
Whistle Stop (October 3)
The Maple Tree Cafe (September 26)
Michele’s (September 19)
Paliani’s Restaurant (September 12)
Frankie’s (September 5)
Gusanoz (August 29)
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More posts from Maria Russo.
I think the only way they would succeed would be to clean house and get a new staff. More Reviews and details if you click my name.
Looking forward to your recap of the RI series to see who survived and who didn't.
It is now up if you haven't seen it yet
Challenging makeover. They made something from absolutely nothing. What a drab dirty and depressing dump this was.
I am usually optimistic about these things but I think that this place is destined to fail. The owners lack the skills to make it a success. I honestly hope that I am wrong.
The makeover was horrible! What a poor design job – the paint on the colors were dull and drab and the decor was cheap and looked cheap. At least all the other designers were able to make the makeovers look chic and classy for the tight budget! Don't use that designer ever!!!!!!!
They had to buy all new chairs for the restaurant, then replace the entire bar, and then lost 1500 to a new stove. I can see where they ran out of cash and time to bling the place out.
All in all I thought they turned the place from a complete dump into a clean (if sparse) room where you could at least eat in comfort.
That wasn't "paint". It was stain which is supposed to be transparent so the grain in the cedar wood would show through. I think the place looked better than what I've seen on other episodes. It's too bad that they haven't really changed anything except the decor based on other reviews.
Sounds like someone is jealous of Lyn and his position at the show. Have design aspirations that haven't been fulfilled? a student perhaps?
Jealous of someone who designs look like someone yakked all over the place? Feh.
I do feel that they need to get a new and willing waitstaff to listen to direction and not to do a hen house of gossip I'm sure it's gotten better but sometimes old dogs can't be taught new tricks aspecialy if they think there doing nothing wrong.
There is no personality at this place. Everyone including the owners have a flat affect.
There isn't any personality, I worked at this place when it first opened in 09, and things looked to be in the same condition as when i quit, as i knew it was a sinking ship, surprised its still open 3 yrs later but im sure they went back to opening cans and frozen foods after Chef Roberts visit. Its doomed business with or without RI
hate the focus wall – why can't they get some younger people for wait staff, there are two colleges within 20 minutes of the restaurant
Because the owner would rather exercise her extreme form of nepotism and completely alienate customers.
I think that Chef Irvine needs to find the Health Inspectors before he chastises the restaurant owners .Some of these places should have been shut down years ago.These kitchens are deplorable, disgusting,and swarming with bacteria.How do the stay in business? Don't they have to pass an inspection every couple of months?
In my experience health inspections are few and far between, and always planned. The inspectors always call to let the owners know they are coming. If they did true surprise inspections I expect over half of all existing restaurants would close. A good rule of thumb is to use the restroom before you eat. If they don't keep that room clean chances are the kitchen is a disaster!
Better yet, look at how many cars are in the parking lot, especially at lunch and dinner times. Few or no cars…avoid the place like the plague. No need to even get out of your car. Drive on to the next place. Learned that from being on the road.
Unfortunately, they do not. I was in the restaurant business for a good length of time and the ratio of places to the number of inspectors is appalling. Based on numbers at the time, the typical restaurant would get a visit maybe every 5-6 years, and that is if it stays open under the same name that long. Sssssscary, isnt it?
I live less than a mile from Caseyville Cafe. it was a BIG deal with the show being in town. I even drove by myself. Alas, didn't lay eyes on Robert darn it. My inlaws stopped going there before the makeover because of the rudeness of the servers. They went back after the makeover and said that it was awful. The coffee was really bad and the same rude waitress (the owner's sister) waited on them. They tried to make small talk and asked about the show. The waitress said "Irvine was a SOB (and she didn't abbreviate) who had to have everything HIS way!" She totally trashed talked the whole experience. They asked for a teapot of hot water to dilute the coffee and that really ticked her off. She went back over to the serving station and spoke well loud enough for them to hear about how these prima donna customers hated the coffee and thought they were so special. They won't be back! Also spoke to a dear friend today and her sister went there and said they've completely gone back to their old ways. They are doomed! Oh well, he tried to help them. What does he know, he is a successful chef and restaurant owner, why listen to him? You couldn't pay me to go there.
Wow! It just goes to show that you can't cure stupid in 2 days and a pile of money. What a waste of time, money, and effort for the Food Network and Robert Irvine and the crew. The people at that restaurant will probably blame everybody else and their brother when they fail. What a pathetic way to live your life, treating customers like that.
Guess they missed the point that no one's going there to hear about their problems and more gossip. The family-work scenario doesn't work for this crew. The ones losing out the most are the owners. The wait staff will shuffle down the street to some other diner, if anyone will hire them. The most obvious problem is being grumpy doesn't garner good tips, so this woman is shooting herself in the wallet. Owner's sister or not, time for her to hit the highway!
Does anybody else think the Caseyville Cafe waitresses would also whine about seat cushions on a lifeboat? Ah, well. Money may not grow on trees, but dingbat owners and idiot restaurant employees apparently do.
I went there recently and it was a terrible experience. Literally the only thing we enjoyed were the new lights. Candy was our waitress, she was very rude and became very hostile and disrespectful when we mentioned Roberts name. We asked for his menu items and she jumped down our throats saying they didn't keep any of them and they were only for the reopening. Now to the food….most of it was cold, the meat was dry and overcooked. The mac and cheese tasted like noodles with yellow water….worse than cafeteria food. Diane greeted us far into our visit but never did Candy smile or seem even remotely happy to be there. Needless to say, we did not eat our food. My family will never be back and I advise no one else go either. Waste of money.
Which one was candy, the owner's sister? Did you mention to Diane how you were treated? The new "chef" there was making a big scene like he would rally everything under control. Sounds like he's not in control of anything except a can opener. How does going back to serving crap make any sense when you had a top notch chef giving you simplified recipes that taste good and are fast to make? If the wait staff want to buy the restaurant and take on the debt of the mother/daughter, then they can complain. Otherwise, they should zip it or quit because the place was due to close in 2 months. The owners must have to look intentionally pathetic to be selected because if they've watched any of the past episodes, they would know what's going to be asked up front – revenue, food costs, overhead, etc. It wasn't clear if they went back to the old way of tracking sales by throwing them in a bag either – a modern computer in the place might help! Ugh.
Candy was never featured talking but she's the long haired blonde with the constant sour look on her face. No, we didn't mention it to Diane because she was too busy sitting and talking with some older gentlemen in the corner. However my boyfriend and I did express our opinions on their Facebook page tonight. All of our comments have been deleted and we have both been blocked. I understand that the head chef that was shown on the episode no longer works there.
That's the kind of place super glue is made for. Entire place settings look nice glued to the walls. Full, upside down glasses of soda are also nice (there's a trick to it, practice at home first) Learned those on the road too..
I don't believe they'll make it with all of the family members, who are so entrenched in their doom and gloom. The makeover was good with the money and time, and I don't think a "bling" place would work in this cafe atmosphere. Mom and daughter both need some business help, or hire out the bookwork. Until they get costs under control they are destined to fail.
There is a cafe near us that we quit going to because of the loud-mouth, gossipy cook in the kitchen. Her obnoxious voice overpowers everything, and makes the few customers feel unwelcome. The owners are apparently oblivious, or just don't care.