Courtesy Bigelo's Bistro
After almost 20 years in business, the owners of Bigelo’s Bistro will be closing the Edwardsville institution. The restaurant's last day will be this Friday, October 11.
A September 30 post on the restaurant’s Facebook page announced the news. “So much has changed since we first opened our doors in 2000 with determination and a dream to offer our customers excellent food in a laid-back atmosphere,” the post began. “Our own families have grown while downtown Edwardsville has experienced dramatic transformation. We’ve decided to end this run on a high note so that we can spend more precious time with those who mean so much to us. As of October 11, Bigelo’s will close. Thank you for letting us be a part of your family for the past 19 years.”
After spending the past five years managing day-to-day operations, along with some cooking responsibilities, co-owner Jeff Thomas says he felt it was time for a change. “I was 29 when we opened Bigelo's, and now I'm almost 50,” he said. An opportunity to fulfill a lifelong ambition of moving his family to Colorado brought matters into focus. “I realized the restaurant is really the only thing keeping us here,” he says. “It's been a successful and very long run, and I just decided that I'd like to close now on a positive note and open the doors to new opportunities, whatever comes next.”
Passing the restaurant on to the next generation was never going to be an option. “My son is only 4, so he hasn't perfected his kitchen skills quite yet,” Thomas quips. In any case, he says it would feel strange to keep Bigelo’s in the family without the continued involvement of his co-owners’ families. (Kurt Dennis and Mark Pruitt have both been largely silent partners for a number of years.) “I think it started with us and should end with us,” Thomas says. So it was that the trio decided to close the popular neighborhood restaurant.
Thomas says he and his partners plan to sell the equipment and the building. They've also received inquiries about the restaurant but haven’t yet tried to sell the business, though that doesn’t mean a sale is off the table. “We would consider selling the business if the right buyer were interested,” Thomas says. “We'd want to make sure that person would be able to carry on the vibe and character that makes Bigelo's the place it is.”
After October 11, Thomas says he intends to take some time off: “Maybe go on some field trips with my son and his classmates, take care of the house and the dogs, make amazing food for my wife, and clean up some of these dinosaurs that are all over the floor. I've got a few ideas, but I'm not going to rush into anything.
“If there's one thing that's made all of the hard work worth it," Thomas adds, "it's the awesome response we got from the community."
