Rip's Tavern
Encyclopedia
Rip's Tavern is a mom and pop
casual dining
restaurant and bar located in Ladd
, Illinois
. They specialize in fried chicken
and provide a recognizably unique atmosphere to their customers. The taste of Rip's chicken has been enjoyed all across the United States
as well as Germany
.
Founded in 1936 by Silvio "Rip" Gualandri, Rip's Tavern has been able to stay in business because of its ability to adapt to a changing society. The current location for the tavern has not changed since 1937 when it was moved across the street from its original location.
Current owners, Bill and Dave Rounds, are considering franchising
, and the Chicago Reader reports that they have a "good offer from investors in Bloomington-Normal, [Illinois] on the table."
, Illinois
by Silvio "Rip" Gualandri, it has been valued by its patrons from the local area. The tavern received its name because of the founder's nickname
, Rip, which he received from the time he spent working on the Repair, Inspect and Paint Track
on the railroad. According to Rip's website, their fried chicken
has traveled as far as Germany
and Alaska
, and an order is sent to Las Vegas
every year.
would cross the Atlantic Ocean
from their hometown in Italy
to come to work at Rip's.
The tavern has now transitioned from having only family employees to hiring area college students. This transition has been one of the many obstacles that Rip's has overcome to maintain their business.
burned down the tavern causing $200,000 of damages to Rip's and other buildings in the vicinity.
After the fire had completely burned down the existing building, Rip's purchased the adjacent building to increase the size of their establishment. With the increase in size, Rip's was able to add more space to the kitchen
, move the location of the bathroom
and expand the waiting area.
. The menu is given by word of mouth to the customers as they are waiting in line. This particular type of menu makes the ordering process simple; Bill Rounds, a current co-owner, asks each customer waiting in line if he or she would like to order a quarter light or a quarter dark. Depending on the day, he could also add chicken strips or fish to this question. The informal nature of the ordering process distinguishes Rip's from other taverns. Once seated, customers receive crispys and pickles, Rip's signature appetizers. Crispys are the spare batter pieces dropped from the chicken during the frying process.
Like many other small mom and pop businesses
, Rip's Tavern has experienced many setbacks resulting from a changing society. Recently, Dean’s
bought out the company that used to make the pickles
for Rip's, and they threw out the customized recipe, which was crafted to Rounds’ specifications. Events like this make it nearly impossible for small businesses to survive without the ability to adapt and overcome changes. Another concern of the owners is their fear that the specialized cooking oil, which is derived from three different types of vegetable oil, may no longer be available.
The owners still try to maintain the quality that Rip’s was founded on, and they believe that the consistency of their products keep customers coming back. Although times are changing, Rip’s is adapting without losing sight of their standards.
says that the average wait is about an hour which has been shortened from several decade
s ago, but the atmosphere has not changed.
The Chicago Reader mentions that, on average, the waiting customers can see people from about 15 different towns in the restaurant. Most of these towns are within a 20 miles (32.2 km) radius, but some regulars drive over an hour to enjoy the atmosphere at Rip's.
Actually, it is still about 2 hours, but still very much worth the wait. As far as travel distance, I have only been outdistanced once and that's when I stopped there on a drive back from California, folks driving 100 miles or more is not unusual. One very interesting phenomenom is the number of people walking out with take-out orders after they have already eaten dinner. We always place a to-go ordering when we go there to eat. It still tastes great the next day.
Rip’s Tavern is closed on Monday and Tuesdays. Historically, Rip's was closed on these two days so that the owner could pick up the live chickens on Monday and slaughter them in the basement on Tuesday. Rip's continues to remain closed on these days despite the change in their chicken preparation practice. Rip’s new practice is to have 3 shipments of fresh chicken delivered from various sources each week which they then prepare to their exacting specifications.
Small business
A small business is a business that is privately owned and operated, with a small number of employees and relatively low volume of sales. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships...
casual dining
Casual dining
This is a list of casual dining restaurant chains around the world, arranged in alphabetical order. A casual dining restaurant is a restaurant that serves moderately-priced food in a casual atmosphere...
restaurant and bar located in Ladd
Ladd, Illinois
Ladd is a village in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,313 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. They specialize in fried chicken
Fried chicken
Fried chicken is a dish consisting of chicken pieces usually from broiler chickens which have been floured or battered and then pan fried, deep fried, or pressure fried. The breading adds a crisp coating or crust to the exterior...
and provide a recognizably unique atmosphere to their customers. The taste of Rip's chicken has been enjoyed all across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as well as Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Founded in 1936 by Silvio "Rip" Gualandri, Rip's Tavern has been able to stay in business because of its ability to adapt to a changing society. The current location for the tavern has not changed since 1937 when it was moved across the street from its original location.
Current owners, Bill and Dave Rounds, are considering franchising
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
, and the Chicago Reader reports that they have a "good offer from investors in Bloomington-Normal, [Illinois] on the table."
History
Since 1936 when Rip's Tavern opened in LaddLadd, Illinois
Ladd is a village in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,313 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
by Silvio "Rip" Gualandri, it has been valued by its patrons from the local area. The tavern received its name because of the founder's nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
, Rip, which he received from the time he spent working on the Repair, Inspect and Paint Track
RIP track
A RIP track is a designated track or tracks in a rail yard where locomotives and/or railroad cars are set out for minor repairs without removing the units from service, sometimes without even removing a freight load from the car. In some yards, a RIP track may be used for staging locomotives or...
on the railroad. According to Rip's website, their fried chicken
Fried chicken
Fried chicken is a dish consisting of chicken pieces usually from broiler chickens which have been floured or battered and then pan fried, deep fried, or pressure fried. The breading adds a crisp coating or crust to the exterior...
has traveled as far as Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, and an order is sent to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
every year.
Employees
Rip's Tavern, up until recent years, has been solely a family run and operated business. This was due to the lack of trust by the owners to anyone outside the family. The Chicago Reader reports that Gualandri's nieces and nephewsNephew
Nephew is a son of one's sibling or sibling-in-law, and niece is a daughter of one's sibling or a sibling-in-law. Sons and daughters of siblings-in-law are also informally referred to as nephews and nieces respectively, even though there is no blood relation...
would cross the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
from their hometown in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to come to work at Rip's.
The tavern has now transitioned from having only family employees to hiring area college students. This transition has been one of the many obstacles that Rip's has overcome to maintain their business.
Location
Rip's Tavern was originally located on the west side of S. Main St., but after just one year of operation, it relocated across the street to its current location. The building remained unchanged until January 28, 1985 when an electrical fire in the kitchenKitchen
A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation.In the West, a modern residential kitchen is typically equipped with a stove, a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator and kitchen cabinets arranged according to a modular design. Many households have a...
burned down the tavern causing $200,000 of damages to Rip's and other buildings in the vicinity.
After the fire had completely burned down the existing building, Rip's purchased the adjacent building to increase the size of their establishment. With the increase in size, Rip's was able to add more space to the kitchen
Kitchen
A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation.In the West, a modern residential kitchen is typically equipped with a stove, a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator and kitchen cabinets arranged according to a modular design. Many households have a...
, move the location of the bathroom
Bathroom
A bathroom is a room for bathing in containing a bathtub and/or a shower and optionally a toilet, a sink/hand basin/wash basin and possibly also a bidet....
and expand the waiting area.
Menu
A unique aspect of Rip's is the fact there is no tangible menuMenu
In a restaurant, a menu is a presentation of food and beverage offerings. A menu may be a la carte – which guests use to choose from a list of options – or table d'hôte, in which case a pre-established sequence of courses is served....
. The menu is given by word of mouth to the customers as they are waiting in line. This particular type of menu makes the ordering process simple; Bill Rounds, a current co-owner, asks each customer waiting in line if he or she would like to order a quarter light or a quarter dark. Depending on the day, he could also add chicken strips or fish to this question. The informal nature of the ordering process distinguishes Rip's from other taverns. Once seated, customers receive crispys and pickles, Rip's signature appetizers. Crispys are the spare batter pieces dropped from the chicken during the frying process.
Changing with the times
Originally, Rip's primarily served fish because Gualandri would clean and fry the fish the locals had caught so the customers could enjoy fresh fish. The menu made its first major change when its signature item, chicken, was added. As a result, Rip's put farmers into business to raise chickens for the tavern. Now Rip's customers consume 4,000 pounds of chicken each week. The Chicago Reader also mentions that pasta was removed in the 1950s because the kitchen was over its workable capacity and could not handle the volume. The only other change in the menu would be both the addition and subtraction of onion rings during the 1980s.Like many other small mom and pop businesses
Small business
A small business is a business that is privately owned and operated, with a small number of employees and relatively low volume of sales. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships...
, Rip's Tavern has experienced many setbacks resulting from a changing society. Recently, Dean’s
Dean Foods
Dean Foods is an American food and beverage company with two operating divisions: Fresh Dairy Direct and WhiteWave-Morningstar. The company maintains plants and distributors in the United States and the United Kingdom. Dean Foods products are sold throughout the USA.-History:In 1925, Samuel E...
bought out the company that used to make the pickles
Pickles
Pickles may refer to:* A pickled cucumber, the food most commonly referred to as a pickle in the U.S. and Canada* A pickled onion, the food most commonly referred to as a pickle in the UK* Other vegetables that have been pickled...
for Rip's, and they threw out the customized recipe, which was crafted to Rounds’ specifications. Events like this make it nearly impossible for small businesses to survive without the ability to adapt and overcome changes. Another concern of the owners is their fear that the specialized cooking oil, which is derived from three different types of vegetable oil, may no longer be available.
The owners still try to maintain the quality that Rip’s was founded on, and they believe that the consistency of their products keep customers coming back. Although times are changing, Rip’s is adapting without losing sight of their standards.
The wait
Rip’s chicken is not the only attraction that brings people to the tavern. The atmosphere of this small town tavern is what makes it different from other fried chicken establishments. Some customers can remember back to when they would wait two and half hours, not just for the chicken, but for the enjoyment of the waiting line atmosphere. The line of customers waiting to eat is a melting pot of people. “Area high school graduates gather with former classmates for miniature class reunions. Businessmen and women meet with their clients. Coaches treat their teams after a win. Parents bring their children, and as the years pass, these children eventually come back with their own families.” Also in the waiting area, current friends socialize while new friendships are made, and old friends are reunited. Rip’s websiteWebsite
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
says that the average wait is about an hour which has been shortened from several decade
Decade
A decade is a period of 10 years. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek dekas which means ten. This etymology is sometime confused with the Latin decas and dies , which is not correct....
s ago, but the atmosphere has not changed.
The Chicago Reader mentions that, on average, the waiting customers can see people from about 15 different towns in the restaurant. Most of these towns are within a 20 miles (32.2 km) radius, but some regulars drive over an hour to enjoy the atmosphere at Rip's.
Actually, it is still about 2 hours, but still very much worth the wait. As far as travel distance, I have only been outdistanced once and that's when I stopped there on a drive back from California, folks driving 100 miles or more is not unusual. One very interesting phenomenom is the number of people walking out with take-out orders after they have already eaten dinner. We always place a to-go ordering when we go there to eat. It still tastes great the next day.
Chicken serving hours
| Day of the Week | Hours |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 4:30 PM – 9:30 PM |
| Thursday | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Friday | 4:30 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Saturday | 4:30 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Sunday | 2:30 PM – 10:00 PM |
Rip’s Tavern is closed on Monday and Tuesdays. Historically, Rip's was closed on these two days so that the owner could pick up the live chickens on Monday and slaughter them in the basement on Tuesday. Rip's continues to remain closed on these days despite the change in their chicken preparation practice. Rip’s new practice is to have 3 shipments of fresh chicken delivered from various sources each week which they then prepare to their exacting specifications.