Gene & Georgetti opening restaurant in Rosemont

Iconic River North steakhouse Gene & Georgetti has announced plans to open a second location in Rosemont, marking the restaurant’s first expansion in almost 75 years of operation.

“We don’t do anything in haste, right?” said Michelle Durpetti, daughter of owners Marion and Tony Durpetti, who will be moving into a new role as marketing and special events manager. “After 75 years, we’re finally deciding to expand.”

The venue, which Tony Durpetti said is expected to open by late spring, will feature a 300-seat restaurant and event space to accommodate 300. It will be located at 9421 W. Higgins Road, occupying the building in which Rosewood Restaurant is currently located.

Rosewood plans to close at the beginning of January when owner Jim Mandas retires. Then the Durpettis will begin revamping the space.

“We have a few cosmetic modifications we like to make to really bring our brand and sort of who we are and what we’re about into the space, really infuse that with the tradition of Gene & Georgetti,” Michelle Durpetti said. The foundations of the menu at the original restaurant will be brought to Rosemont but “there will be room for some new items,” she said.

The family has signed a 10-year lease on the building, with two five-year options. The village of Rosemont owns the building.

Gene & Georgetti has been operating in its River North space at 500 N. Franklin St. since 1941, when Marion Durpetti’s father, Gene Michelotti, opened up shop. The Durpettis have had opportunities to expand in the past but did not believe the timing was right until now, Tony Durpetti said.

The expansion is a natural thing. You can’t just keep doing the same thing forever,” he said. “For us, it’s rejuvenation.”