South Loop restaurants help ex-Hideout staff
When AO Hawaiian Hideout closed on October 31, nearby owners offered jobs to its team to prevent a sudden loss of income.
By Matthew Brooks ·
Staff members at AO Hawaiian Hideout found new employment opportunities within days of the restaurant's closure. Owner Betty Hlavka posted a request on social media in October asking other business owners to hire her employees. Several South Loop restaurants responded to the call, extending job offers to the kitchen and service team.
The restaurant, which served Asian fusion and Hawaiian food for 13 years, closed its doors on October 31. Hlavka cited a family member’s deteriorating health as the reason for the shutdown. In a Facebook post, she thanked patrons for their support over the years. She described the eatery as a home away from home for her family and the community.
Joe Liakopoulos, owner of Panchos Rooftop & Cantina and La Diabla, hired one of the cooks. The employee began work at 327 S. Plymouth Court on November 3. That individual eventually found a position at another venue. Liakopoulos said the goal was to keep the staff employed during the transition. He noted the difficulty of telling long-term employees that a business is shutting down.
Nate and Dianne Domingo, owners of Da Local Boy, also reached out to Hlavka. The couple expressed interest in purchasing the restaurant to create a third location for their Hawaiian street food brand. They planned to keep the existing staff and retain specific menu items, including Hlavka’s Mai Tai recipe. The couple said they wanted to maintain the aloha spirit that defined the original business. The purchase did not materialize due to lease terms with the landlord.
Hlavka has since offered the Domingos catering equipment from the closed restaurant to help their business grow. Dianne Domingo noted the mutual support between the two groups of owners. Hlavka and her husband, Duane, had previously collaborated with the Domingos on fundraisers. The Domingos said they appreciated the ongoing assistance with equipment.
Other nearby establishments also offered support to the displaced workers. Il Culaccino and Flo & Santos, a Polish-Italian restaurant located across the street from the Hideout, both welcomed Hlavka’s staff. Jio Garcia, manager at Flo & Santos, said the restaurants looked out for one another after the pandemic reduced the number of local dining options. Frank Ruffolo, owner of Il Culaccino, praised Hlavka for prioritizing her employees' needs during the closure.
Hlavka wrote on Facebook days before the final closing that she was appreciative of the support from Il Culaccino, Flo & Santos, Panchos, and La Diabla. She expressed a desire to remain part of the South Loop community. The restaurant is no longer open, but the relationships between the owners continue.
The South Loop dining scene retains several of the former Hideout staff in new roles. The local restaurant owners have maintained contact with Hlavka. The next scheduled event for the neighborhood is the annual South Loop Holiday Market, which takes place in December.
