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Since 1987, Harry Caray's Restaurant Group (HCRG), led by Grant DePorter, has proven to be one of Chicago's most dynamic and successful restaurant management companies. The enterprise currently manages six restaurants, an off-premise catering company and an upscale bowling lounge. HCRG opened its first restaurant; Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse on Kinzie Street in 1987, and in 1999, the group opened its second location in Rosemont. In 2001, HCRG received its off-premise catering license, and now caters many of Chicagoland's premier landmarks including The Newberry Library, Catalyst Ranch and Chicago's First Lady. Harry Caray's Seventh Inning Stretch at Chicago's Midway Airport opened in 2001 and is the airport's flagship restaurant. In 2004, the group opened 10pin, an upscale bowling lounge adjacent to the House of Blues. In spring 2007, HCRG found a home in Wrigleyville, when it took over Hi-Tops. Currently under renovation, the space will reopen as Harry Caray's Tavern in March 2008. In 2007, HCRG opened a third Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse and it's new fresh seafood concept, Holy Mackerel!, both in Lombard, Illinois. Named as one of the Top 75 Multiconcept Leaders in the Country by Restaurants and Institutions Magazine, HCRG continues to expand its ventures. For more information, call (773) HOLY-COW.
Harry Caray's Seventh Inning Stretch premiered in 2001 and is the only full service restaurant and bar at Chicago's Midway Airport. Harry Caray's Restaurant Group partnered with Midway Airport Concessionaires to develop one of the country's most exciting airport restaurants. The energetic atmosphere embodies the amiable personality of the restaurant's namesake. The combination of mahogany paneling, mosaic tile and a veritable museum of baseball history create a warm and casual elegance. Named for the late, renowned baseball announcer, the restaurant is ideal for travelers looking to take a freshly made sandwich to go or those who have a short respite while waiting for their flight. Harry Caray's Seventh Inning Stretch is also perfect for those looking to have a business meeting at a premier Chicago restaurant without leaving the airport
Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse, named for the late Hall of Fame baseball announcer, opened on October 23, 1987 and has become one of the country’s most nationally recognized restaurants. This legendary Italian Steakhouse serves the finest prime, aged steaks and chops in a truly warm “Chicago” atmosphere. Harry Caray’s has won numerous awards including “Best Steakhouse” by the Chicago Tribune’s Dining Poll and Best of Citysearch Poll, Wine Spectator’s prestigious “Award of Excellence” every year since 1989, and has been ranked continuously in the top 100 highest grossing restaurants in America.
The friendly, energetic atmosphere embodies the amiable personality of the restaurant’s namesake. The combination of mahogany paneling, white tablecloths and a veritable museum of baseball history creates a warm and casual elegance. Located in the heart of Chicago's River North, Harry Caray’s Chicago, designated the "Official Home Plate of the Chicago Cubs," is within walking distance of numerous major hotels and office buildings.
The same kind of persistence Harry Caray employed breaking into the broadcasting business was used to snare the woman who shared the roller-coaster ride of the last 23 years of his life. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Dolores Goldmann was nicknamed “Dutchie” partly for her ethnic background.
Trying to get her mind off her vast responsibilities as a single mother of five children, Dutchie’s friends took her out to Brennan’s, a restaurant in the St. Louis suburbs. Here she met Harry Caray, who was then in his 25th season as Cardinals announcer, for the first time. “The next couple of times I was in there, Harry happened to come in, and he talked to me. I really wasn’t following his career, because I didn’t have time to listen to games. Harry sent a bottle of champagne to my table, but that didn’t impress me. I had so many other things on my mind.” Caray kept asking Dutchie to dinner, but she turned him down. “I just wasn’t interested,” she says. He stepped up the campaign, calling her at home. Again, she told the announcer she was busy and worked late. No problem, we’ll go out to dinner late in the evening, he responded. Eventually, reluctantly, Dutchie finally took him up on his offer.
Then Caray was abruptly fired from the Cardinals job after the 1969 season. He continued his pursuit of Dutchie long-distance from Oakland, where he worked on Athletics games in the 1970 season. “He’d come back to St. Louis on days off,” she says. “It got to the point where he would call me from Oakland and tell me when he’d be coming in.” Caray even enlisted good buddy Pete Vonachen in the wooing process. More folks got involved in the act when Caray migrated to Chicago to work for the White Sox in 1971. Dutchie came up occasionally to go out with Caray, but expected nothing to come of the relationship. Caray thought differently. “He began asking me to marry him,” Dutchie says. “That went on for three to four years. I kept saying no.” “No” was still the answer even after the couple obtained a marriage license. But Caray simply wore down his best gal. When he had finally worn down her last bit of resistance in 1975, he took no chances that she’d get cold feet. Friends summoned Judge Norman Barry to the Ambassador East Hotel, where Caray lived at the time. Harry’s buddies, Ben Stein and Emmett O’Neill, quickly arrived to serve as witnesses, and the vows were exchanged at 4 p.m. on May 19. “He really was persistent,” Dutchie says in an understatement. “He got his way no matter what. He was just so adamant about getting married.
Address:
Harry Caray's Restaurant Group
33 West Kinzie Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Tel. (773) HOLY-COW (465-9269)
Fax. (312) 828-9267
Harry carays
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