Down to Business: Looking for a comfort food fix? Everdine’s Grilled Cheese aims to please

Business: Everdine’s Grilled Cheese Co.

Address: 24 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville

Phone/website: 630-544-6626; www.everdines.com

Owners: Kelly and Brian Herkert, of Naperville; manager: Allie Gliganic, 19, of Naperville

Years in business: 7

What does your business do? “We foster a niche community. We make grilled cheese. People who like grilled cheese are not stuck-up people. They come here for a good time. They want comfort food. We get that,” Gliganic said.

How many types of grilled cheese sandwiches do you sell? “We have two specials that switch out every month, so we have about 20 types of sandwiches. We have some secret menu item on the website, those are past specials, (that customers) can order.”

How can you have so many grilled cheese recipes? “We’re very creative. Kelly and Brian have been doing this for a long time. They started the idea when they were backpacking in Australia. They needed cheap fast food so they started making grilled cheese. That’s how it started.”

What’s your favorite grilled cheese? “I like to build my own. I’m vegetarian so that kind of limits my options. I like cheddar, American and jalepeno. Super simple, but it’s my go-to. … I don’t like cold sandwiches. I work a lot. I don’t have time to eat breakfast. So, I’m eating grilled cheese all day.”

When are you busy? “We open at 11 and it is busy until 1:30 or 2. On Saturday and Sunday, both those days are super busy until 2, then we pick up again from 5:30 to 7.”

What are your hours? “We’re open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. six days. We’re closed on Monday.”

Do you work six days a week? “I’m here five days a week because I’m going to College of DuPage right now. I’m studying psychology. … I’ve worked here since my sophomore year in high school.”

What’s your business philosophy? “We’re a ‘yes’ business. We say ‘yes’ to everything. If someone asks for something that’s not on the menu, like buttered noodles. We have butter. We have noodles. We can make it work for them.”

Do many North Central College students eat here? “A lot of people who eat here are college students. They get a 10% discount when we see them wearing North Central merchandise.”

How many employees work here? “Fifteen. A lot of our workers are from North Central.

What you like best about your job? “We all get along super well. It’s a community. … There is never any drama here. Everyone is so chill. We’re all very tight. … Another thing I like is I met my boyfriend here. Henry Carlsen. He works here too.”

Does getting along well help the business? “Yes. We have a sign that says, ‘Team work makes the dream work.’ That’s the motto.”

Anything you don’t like? “I don’t like how I smell like bacon grease when I go home. That’s the only thing I don’t like.”

Any favorite stories? “One time a woman asked for a grilled cheese with no bread. On a lettuce wrap. It did happen. … We have keto bread, she could have had that. We have gluten-free bread, dairy-free cheese. I can make a grilled cheese with no gluten, no dairy. The dairy-free cheese is super good.”

What challenges do you face? “The construction (on Washington Street) has been messing us up seriously. … We’re struggling with staffing right now too. All our employees are from North Central (College), COD (College of DuPage) and high school. When they graduate, we struggle.”

Any future plans? “Kelly and Brian are opening a second location in Batavia. It will open sometimes this year.”

Do you cater? “We do catering. We can fit eight sandwiches in a box. … We also have a portable griddle so we can do events at peoples’ houses or parties. … We did Naper Nights.”

Why is the business called Everdine’s? “It’s named after (the owners’) daughter, Everdine. She’s here after school. She’s 11. She plans to run the place when she grows up.”

Will you own a restaurant some day? “I really want to open a breakfast place. I love breakfast food. I love making food for other people. … But there would be competition. There are a lot of breakfast places.”

What does a customer say? “It’s cheap. It’s good quality. It’s fresh. It’s filling. … I’m here three times a week,” said NCC sophomore Will O’Rourke, 19, of Bartlett.

What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “It’s all in the people you choose. It’s all in character. You need good character people,” Gliganic said.

Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. If you know of a business you’d like to see profiled in Down to Business, contact him at metschmsfl@yahoo.com.