The Apple and The Holiday Inn William Tell... The Apple and The

The Apple and
The Holiday Inn William Tell...
A restaurant whose roots go back six decades acquires stories, and the William Tell Restaurant & Banquets in
Countryside definitely has a story to “Tell”. The Swiss hero, William Tell, is linked to the Marx brothers and to a
family from Europe building their American dream.
Zdenka and Stanley Lenoch arrived in the mid-1950s, with sons Josef and Viado, who now operate the business,
which includes a Holiday Inn. It all started when Stanley seized the opportunity to acquire golf property adjacent to
his Sunnyside Motel on Route 66 to create the sprawling hospitality complex in 1974. He coaxed the owner of the
William Tell Restaurant in Chicago to operate it for the Lenochs as a suburban dining destination. Josef says the
restaurant is known for its continental cuisine, incorporating dishes from Germany, Bohemia, America and Italy.
Recently, the Holiday inn William Tell has introduced a new chef to the restaurant and the menu has been transitioned to a more current theme, while still maintaining it’s historical flavor.
A $2.5 million renovation of the public spaces, lobby, facade and parking lot was completed recently. Intact are the
charms of the steakhouse, where romantic lighting and leather banquettes are set off by the original murals depicting
the legend of William Tell, painted by Riverside artist R. Kokott.
The Marx brothers connection came to light, when La Grange opened a time
capsule, revealing the brothers’ family owned the land on which William Tell sits,
plus other property. The land was used for chicken ranching, which they apparently
left behind for Hollywood.
Like the story of the arrow and the apple, the arrow had a destination, the apple.
Welcome to your destination, the historical William Tell Restaurant & Banquets.
Have an apple and enjoy your stay!