Following an unexpected closure last Tuesday (Oct. 30), popular Des Plaines restaurant Paradise Pup, located on River Road just south of Oakton Street, reopened Friday (Nov. 2).

A sign posted on the shop’s front door Wednesday read “closed due to family emergency.” Owners have not elaborated on why the eatery closed for three days. Some local residents have taken to social media with claims that vehicles, blocked customers from entering the parking lot on Oct. 30.

One longtime Des Plaines resident told the Journal & Topics he saw around eight to 12 unmarked vehicles surrounding the building at 1724 River Rd. at around 11:15 a.m. when he tried to pull into the lot. Video footage taken by the man shows a number of vehicles in the lot behind the building and a black SUV with red and blue flashing lights parked in front.

“I saw two individuals dressed in suits talking to the owners,” he said, along with others wearing gloves and looking through a Paradise Pup dumpster.

Twitter user Mike Chen, another witness to the scene and who lives nearby, said he saw approximately three unmarked cars outside Paradise Pup as he drove past the property around noon.

When the Journal visited the property on Oct. 31, staff from M & T Automotive, an auto body shop located next to Paradise Pup, said they did not know why the restaurant suddenly closed.

Cmdr. Christopher Mierzwa of the Des Plaines Police Department said he was not aware of any reason that the restaurant would be shut down, or of any investigation of the business by Des Plaines police. Patrick Ainsworth of the city’s Community Development Dept., which handles code enforcement issues, also said he was unaware of any violations at Paradise Pup that could lead to closure.

“Per policy, the FBI does not comment on any matter it may or may not be investigating,” said Special Agent Janine Wheeler, FBI Chicago media coordinator, in response to a Journal inquiry into the closure.

Another inquiry sent to the IRS regarding the reason for the closure has not yet been answered.

Brothers George and Anthony Manos opened Paradise Pup in 1982. Over the past three decades, the restaurant has become a local favorite, with frequent mentions on top ten lists for burgers in the Chicago area and an appearance on the Food Network show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”.

Attempts to reach restaurant owners have been unsuccessful.