If you drive past Haddad's restaurant on West Main Street this week, you may notice brand new windows, freshly painted brick and a new sign featuring white lettering over a bright red background.
After being nominated for "Revamp Peoria," the third-generation family-owned Lebanese restaurant won a free façade upgrade from Baldovin Construction.
Aside from hiring someone to paint the family's name on the brick 10 years ago, restaurant manager Tony Haddad says the restaurant has never had a true exterior makeover.
"We started this process back in August in 2020 and finally today it's finished, and we're very grateful," he said.
Tony Haddad's grandparents, Tony Sr. and Loreece Haddad, founded the restaurant in the early '80s after emigrating to Peoria from Beirut, Lebanon in 1977.
Before the brick and mortar at 1010 W. Main St., the family operated a push cart in Downtown Peoria.
Today the restaurant is owned by Tony Jr.'s father, Gabriel Haddad. He thanked the public for nominating his family's restaurant and the contractors who contributed time and money to the project.
"[I'm] overjoyed," he said. "They've done a really marvelous job on it. To look at it back then ... it's like, all over again. Brand new again."
Thanks to donations from various Peoria sub-contractors, the façade did not cost the Haddads a penny.
COVID-19 did not stop the construction industry, Casey Baldovin said. Not only did he not have to lay anyone off — he actually hired employees in the last two years.
But the restaurant industry did suffer, and Baldovin said he saw "Revamp Peoria" as a way to give back.
"I've invested a lot in Peoria," said Baldovin, who founded his company in 2016. "For us, it's a good way to give back to someone else who's been here and invested in Peoria for years. Way longer than I've been here. And, pretty good family to give back to."
During a month of nominations, Baldovin received nearly 40 suggestions from the public of what restaurant deserved a new façade most.
In 2022, Baldovin called on the public to patronize more small and family-owned restaurants.
"People going out to dinner, and paying for good food, and tipping well ... I'd like to see that," he said.
The cost of the project would have cost between $50,000 and $65,000, Baldovin said.
Peoria sub-contractors that chipped in time and/or materials to help Baldovin with the project include Revive Painting, JP Glass, Ace Sign Co., Arch Masonry Inc., Peoria Brick Co., Midwest Electric & Service, and CJ Signs.
