Downers Grove Restauranteur Earns Entrepreneurial Excellence Award
(Downers Grove, Ill.-October 4, 2010) He’s young, successful and knows how to make one heck of a pizza. And now, he’s an award-winning businessman at the eyebrow-raising age of 23. Danny Glover, owner of Skuddlebutt’s and Party People Rental Company in Downers Grove, has earned the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award in the Early Stage Category from The Business Ledger, a bi-weekly business publication serving DuPage, Kane, Will and suburban Cook counties. The award recognized Glover’s tenacious attitude to succeed. He was honored at a September 16 reception in Wheaton.
Glover’s life is the classic mom-and-pop success story. Skuddlebutt’s, owned by the Gall family, started out as a small tavern in 1939 on Belmont in Downers Grove. Glover began working there when he was 15. After graduating from Downers Grove North High School, Glover continued his employment, learning the ropes in every aspect of the business. In 2006, Skuddlebutt’s moved to its present location at 440 Ogden Avenue. “When the decision was made to sell the family restaurant started by my father,” said William Gall, “I could think of no one better to carry on the tradition than this highly motivated and determined young man.”
Under Glover’s tutelage, Skuddlebutt’s has become well-known for its two-for-one daily pizzas, char-broiled burgers, Chicago and New York style pies, amazing barbecue and salads. The restaurant also offers carry-out and caters parties of any size. It works closely with the booster clubs for both hometown high schools and provides special lunches for a number of local elementary schools. Just this year, Glover opened Party People Rental Company, which offers a wide variety of rental items such as tents, linens, tables, lighting, entertainment and games.
About the award, Glover credits those who have inspired him along the way. “Bill, the previous owner, let me work with him day and night. I wanted to learn everything. He believed in me. In 2009, Bill and I started speaking very seriously about me purchasing the operation. I worked endlessly researching and trying to find the financing. After months of meeting with bankers and investors, at the age of 22, I was able to secure the financing and we were able to work out a deal to purchase this long standing community landmark. And to this day, he still helps me in many ways by giving me advice, pitching in when we need extra help and just encouraging me to try new ideas.” Another mentor to Glover is Dick Portillo who gave the young entrepreneur a chance to sit in on a corporate meeting. “I always admired Danny’s aggressiveness, and I’m certainly able to relate because that’s the way I was when I was 23. He asked me if he could attend one of our monthly meetings where the company department heads and supervisors meet and discuss various issues. There he was, taking notes and listening patiently. I knew then that that kid was going somewhere,” said Portillo, owner of the well-known establishments bearing his name.
Thinking of starting a business? Glover says, “If you want to be able to determine your own future and success then entrepreneurship is for you.” Or, if you’re just hungry, stop by for a pizza.
Skuddlebutt’s, open for lunch and dinner, is located at 440 Ogden Avenue, one block west of Fairview on the north side of Ogden, in Downers Grove. It shares space with sister-company Party People Rental Company. In addition to its hometown, Skuddlebutt ’s delivers and caters celebrations in many surrounding areas, including Westmont, Oak Brook, Woodridge, Lisle, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills. For more information, call (630) 964-6688 or visit www. skuddlebutts.com.
Full article can be found here: http://www.triblocal.com/downers-grove/community/stories/2010/10/downers-grove-restauranteur-earns-entrepreneurial-excellence-award/index.html