Cheese fries, steaks and horseshoes: Countdown is on for downtown Peoria pub's revival

Cassidy Waigand, Journal Star
Updated ·3 min read
Scott Wood, left, and Raul Salazar stand at the underground entrance to the former Richard's on Main, soon to be reopened as Richard's Under Main at 311 Main Street in downtown Peoria.
Scott Wood, left, and Raul Salazar stand at the underground entrance to the former Richard's on Main, soon to be reopened as Richard's Under Main at 311 Main Street in downtown Peoria.

When Raul Salazar helped open Richard's on University, he said he heard a similar sentiment from many of the patrons. The food reminded them of the original Richard's on Main − which opened in downtown Peoria in the early 2000s − but "it's not the same."

"We had the opportunity of making it the same, so we took it," Salazar said.

Salazar and co-owner Scott Wood have been working to revive the original location at 311 Main St. as Richard's Under Main. The business has scheduled its grand opening for July 29.

'Steaks till 4 a.m.': Downtown Peoria restaurant is being revived

What's on the menu at Richard's Under Main?

A "Reserved" sign sits on a large round table next to the fireplace in the former Richard's on Main in downtown Peoria. The space will soon reopen as Richard's Under Main.
A "Reserved" sign sits on a large round table next to the fireplace in the former Richard's on Main in downtown Peoria. The space will soon reopen as Richard's Under Main.

At the restaurant, Salazar said the menu will be "85 to 90 percent the same."

Customers will find original menu items including:

  • Horseshoe sandwich for $16. The sandwich comes on Texas toast and includes meat, fries or tater tots and zesty cheese sauce on top.

  • "Peoria's best cheese fries" for $7. The fries come topped with Richard's cheese sauce.

  • Ribeye or New York strip steak

Aboveground, Richard's sign now advertises "burgers and brews," and Wood said many are inspired by the gangster era. The menu includes options such as:

  • The Elliot Ness − a bison, elk, boar and wagyu burger with provolone and bourbon bacon jam for $18.

  • The Big Jim − a deep fried half-pound burger stuffed with cheese and bacon for $15.

  • Lucky Luciano − a half-pound burger topped with fried dill pickles, mozzarella and pepperoni ranch for $15.

  • The Gusenberg − a half-pound burger topped with gouda cheese and bourbon bacon jam on a pretzel bun for $16.

"We had burgers back then, but I don't remember them like these," Wood said. "They didn't stand out. So that'll be some kind of new."

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Why did Richard's start a GoFundMe?

The tin ceiling that extends through the dining room will remain at the former Richard's on Main, soon to become Richard's Under Main, in downtown Peoria.
The tin ceiling that extends through the dining room will remain at the former Richard's on Main, soon to become Richard's Under Main, in downtown Peoria.

On July 11, the restaurant posted a GoFundMe to its Facebook page, stating: "after some new unexpected costs, we need a little help." The post also noted that customers who stopped by Richard's Cafe — located aboveground — can purchase a $125 gift card for $100.

Salazar said the restaurant encountered some additional projects, such as extra electrical work and needing to install panic bars on doors. He said cost was "a lot more than we anticipated."

"So, it's just something that popped up — nothing too crazy," Salazar said. "I mean, it's not going to stop us from opening or anything like that. It's just something that wasn't in the original budget."

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Visiting Richard's Under Main

Since announcing the location's revival in April, Salazar and Wood said they have received a positive response from the community, both from people who patronized the original Richard's and from those who have only heard stories about the restaurant.

"It's not about me or him," Wood said. "We will be the ones lucky to get it back up and running again, and the people create Richard's. It's all about those guys."

Address: 311 Main St., Peoria

Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday

Website: https://richardspeoria.com/

More: Nashville-themed bar plans move to new, larger location in downtown Peoria

Connect with Cassidy Waigand by emailing her at CWaigand@gannett.com or by following her on Twitter at @justxaxwriter.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Downtown Peoria restaurant Richard's Under Main will open July 22