10/11/2026
We are beyond excited to reopen our doors and welcome the community into our new home!
A W.E. Sullivan's update, per the Journal Star: https://www.pjstar.com/story/lifestyle/food/2026/10/09/w-e-sullivans-irish-pub-reopening-date-in-peoria-heights/92103587007/
'Always meant to be here': Irish restaurant eyes opening in Peoria Heights
By Cassidy Waigand
Peoria Journal Star
Oct. 9, 2026
PEORIA HEIGHTS – When W.E. Sullivan’s Irish Pub & Fare opens in its new home, co-owner Lauren Blasek wants it to “feel like we were always meant to be here.”
The building – once home to businesses like TNT’s and Penguin Tap – is in the home stretch of a near total overhaul. She and husband Billy Blasek are now eyeing Thanksgiving week for the restaurant’s grand reopening, with limited, soft openings expected in the weeks prior.
Once open, the space will be notably different from the prior concepts, with customers finding nods to the original W.E. Sullivan’s throughout.
“That was the goal – is that (guests) walked in and it felt like Sullivan's – not we took over another restaurant and it's rotating,” Blasek said.
Melding the old with the new
The new space – situated at 4319 N. Prospect Road – has indeed seen a rotation of concepts in recent years.
TNT’s Sports Bar & Grill operated a second location there for over a decade before shuttering in 2020. A few years later, Good Tequilas came along, followed by Jalisco Bar & Grill in late 2024. After just over a year in business, the more recent Mexican eatery closed its doors, and the property once again hit the market.
In June, the Blaseks announced their restaurant was relocating to the storefront, describing the revelation as “the worst kept secret.” The property sits less than half a mile from W.E. Sullivan’s original home, where the Blaseks operated for around a decade before bidding farewell to the location in April.
The space will be markedly different than before – with multiple areas able to be partitioned off for private dining, arched nooks housing booth seating, a private gaming zone and other changes.
With the updates, the Blaseks hope to create a space which honors the history of W.E. Sullivan’s and the Heights.
In the entryway, Blasek wants to highlight the broader “history of the Heights” with photos – showcasing everything from TNT’s and Ben Franklin to Trefzger’s and Pabst Blue Ribbon.
The wall directly across from the front doors will feature the same tile found at the former location, along with a fireplace, so guests are “still greeted with that warm, fireplace feel,” Blasek said. A second fireplace will sit in the center of the main dining area – with openings into a private dining space on either side.
That’s one fewer than the original location, Blasek noted, which boasted three different fireplaces.
“So, we brought at least two of them back in just to give the aesthetic of the history of our place,” she said.
The Blaseks also preserved the decade old sign that once hung outside the former location.
The original sign for W.E. Sullivan’s Irish Pub & Fare is being incorporated into the bar top for the new location.
“I also didn't want to get rid of it, but we knew we couldn't use it (in the same way) here because it wasn't the same aesthetic,” Blasek said. “So, we're like, how do we keep kind of the history of what we were before for what we are now and kind of mesh those two together?”
Her solution? Incorporate the sign into the new bar top, creating an eye-catching ode to the restaurant’s original home.
She hopes to repurpose the sign which hung above the stage at the former storefront, as well. The plan, Blasek said, is to place it outside on the three-seasons deck to catch the eye of passerby.
Some of the furniture will also be reused, with items also salvaged from other Peoria businesses.
Outside, the exterior of the building is seeing an extensive overhaul. Brick siding is going up around much of the building, with the front façade also set to boast rustic wood, stone, a 27-foot copper awning and sconces.
“So, it'll look kind of like cottagey and old-world,” Blasek said.
‘Humbling and amazing’
Navigating such a major project is no small feat. Yet, crews are “pushing hard” to bring the space to life.
“It's amazing that they're putting this much effort in to be like, ‘Let's get this done for you guys,’” Blasek said. “So, it's been awesome.”
The Blaseks have worked to stay in contact with employees along the way, and Billy Blasek said many are happy to stop by and lend a hand. Lauren Blasek said they are “blessed” to receive such strong support from staff, saying they feel like family.
Once open, she said around 70% of employees plan to return. Such retention, she said, is “pretty unheard of in the restaurant industry.”
“It's just humbling to be like people believe in us, in our vision and are excited to see what's going to happen,” she said.
Ultimately, Blasek said none of this would have been possible without the support of Josh and Ashley Bellamy, the investors behind the project. While Billy has known Josh for several years, Lauren Blasek said a “serendipitous” encounter at a birthday party prompted a conversation about the business – leading to their support.
“The fact that they believe in our dream and are helping us achieve it is like very humbling and amazing,” Blasek said.
Bringing back the ‘cheers of the Heights’
Though W.E. Sullivan’s has been closed for half a year, the Blaseks have managed to stay involved with the community thanks to the support of fellow business owners.
Sean Kenny – owner of Kenny’s Westside Pub and Friendly Valley Tavern – welcomed Lauren behind the bar on Sundays at Friendly Valley. This, she said, gives regulars the chance to connect and ask for updates on the renovation.
For Irish Fest, Blasek said they partnered with Sean Sullivan of Kelleher’s Irish Pub and Eatery to remain active.
“We've gotten a lot of support from other businesses and other restaurant owners that are really pushing us to stay positive and keep moving forward,” she said, “because it does take a community.”
Community members, meanwhile, are expressing plenty of excitement about the new location.
Blasek described the support as a bit overwhelming, as she hopes to live up to the community’s expectations. Ultimately, though, she added, “I know we’ll do fine.”
W.E. Sullivan’s expects to host limited, soft openings ahead of its grand reopening week, Blasek said, though the restaurant may only offer drinks as the kitchen staff works to familiarize themselves with the new setup.
Then, Billy Blasek said they plan to “hit the ground running” Thanksgiving week.
Ultimately, Lauren Blasek said, “We're just ready to get back to work and put out good food and give people a space to bring back the ‘Cheers’ of the Heights.”
Once reopen, the beloved Irish eatery's co-owner wants the space to feel "like we were always meant to be here.”
