March 31, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

‘I love feeling a part of the community’

Almost a year ago exactly, The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the naming and grand opening of Homegrown, the new restaurant at the Atkins Golf Club.


What a year it has been.


Managed and run by Wheelhouse owners Abbie and Ryan Rogiers Homegrown features farm-to-table cuisine, which the Rogiers are passionate about.


Abbie said the road to managing two restaurants all started when U of I Athletic Director Josh Whitman started eating regularly at The Wheelhouse. Abbie said he told them he wanted to ask them a crazy question. ‘Would you guys ever consider opening another restaurant?’”


“He explained the opportunity at hand, what the vision was for the new restaurant and we eventually jumped on board,” Abbie said.


The Rogiers had to go through the U of I’s process, turn in a business proposal and get voted on by the Board of Trustees.


“It feels incredible to have the backing of the university,” Abbie said. “They have been an extraordinary partner and support throughout the undertaking of this endeavor.”


That backing means Homegrown hosts a lot of athletic department events and banquets allowing the Rogiers to build wonderful relationships and really feel a part of the University team.


“I love the awards banquet so much, we get to have all the players out, get to watch highlight reels, and athletes accepting awards, it’s very touching and endearing,” Abbie said. “I get really choked up sometimes.”


Even with the backing of the university finding staff has been a challenge.


“The most challenging part has been finding and keeping good employees,” Abbie said. “We are dealing with staffing shortages, like many other businesses in the country, and we are constantly working to find great people. I think about it like a sports team, and we are still working on building our team so that we can be successful. If food occasionally comes out incorrectly, if customers have had great service, they can forgive that. But if people don’t get great service, they are not very forgiving. And we have definitely had nights like that, where we know people have not gotten great service. And it breaks our hearts because we are trying so hard to do everything right, but we can’t do it by ourselves. So we’re still working diligently on that.”


While the two restaurants are similar in their menu, the atmospheres are different. The Wheelhouse is smaller, more quaint, a little funkier, Abbie said.


“Homegrown has a total Illini vibe and has several different spaces where events can be happening at all times,” she said.


Homegrown also has a five-acre plot in Stone Creek, where the Rogiers have started to farm this year.
“So most of the produce you eat there is grown within half a mile of the restaurant,” Abbie said.


Abbie said the staff at The Wheelhouse has really stepped up and been supportive during the past year.


“They have been able to hold down the fort while we have been working on building our new team at Homegrown,” Abbie said.


Wheelhouse regulars have shown support for the new venture, Abbie said.


“Many of our regulars from the Wheelhouse have become great friends and Allies, and now split their time between the Wheelhouse and Homegrown,” she said. “We appreciate their support so much, we know they genuinely want us to succeed.”


Building relationships with patrons is Abbie’s favorite part of the restaurant business.


“My favorite part about owning restaurants is building relationships, becoming friends with the customers, becoming family with your coworkers. And I love feeling a part of the community,” she said.

in Life, People
Banner
Related Posts

Frisby to fly high at Illinois State

May 14, 2019

May 14, 2019

A welcome packet from Normal told St. Joseph-Ogden High School senior Justyn Frisby all he needed to know — he...

Mabry shares social media tips for businesses

April 30, 2019

April 30, 2019

Laura Mabry knows what it takes to help businesses be successful using social media. Mabry shared those techniques with the...

Senior Spotlight: Katelyn Berry

June 11, 2019

June 11, 2019

Every week we ask an SJO senior five questions. This week we talked to Katelyn Berry. This post is sponsored...

10 things you don’t know about me… Gary Page

June 4, 2020

June 4, 2020

1. What is your favorite childhood memory? At the risk  of being boo’d out of town – I will never...

Talk of the Town with Susan McKinney

July 2, 2019

July 2, 2019

Every week we ask a village official three questions. This week we talked to St. Joseph Township Librarian Susan McKinney...

10 things you don’t know about me… Stacey Livingston

July 31, 2019

July 31, 2019

Every week we ask an area resident to tell us 10 interesting things about themselves. This week we spoke to...

Senior spotlight: Chloe Duckett

May 16, 2019

May 16, 2019

Leading up to graduation, we asked five seniors five questions. Next up is Chloe Duckett! What will you be doing...

Ask the Doctor with Dr. Jeanelle Murphy

March 10, 2020

March 10, 2020

What are the pros of breastfeeding your newborn? How long would you recommend breastfeeding? Breast milk is the perfect food...

10 things you don’t know about me….. Pam Leiter

January 30, 2019

January 30, 2019

Every week we ask a community member to tell us 10 interesting facts about themselves. This week it is Pam...

‘We lost a great young man’

October 22, 2024

October 22, 2024

When Corey Thompsen was in high school at St. Joseph-Ogden, he and his fellow cross-country runners would race across the...

10 things you don’t know about me… Shawn Skinner

October 1, 2021

October 1, 2021

1. What is your favorite food? Italian food  2. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas 3. What is your favorite...

10 things you don’t know about me Staci Potter

August 12, 2021

August 12, 2021

We asked St. Joseph-Ogden’s new district bookkeeper to tell us 10 interesting facts about herself. Meet Staci Potter. 1. My...

Get to know to know SJO Senior Marching Band member Maya Hewkin

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

My favorite thing about marching band is the connection between the students. Being in band is like being a part...

Homer resident digs his passion of paleontology

March 15, 2019

March 15, 2019

Earlier this year, Homer resident and Augustana College sophomore Quinn Powers gave a Youth TED talk. A TED talk is...

‘Nadirah knew that growing up in St. Joe was just the beginning of her journey through the world’

December 9, 2020

December 9, 2020

Nadirah Edwards left an impression on everyone who met her. Whether it was her kind smile and brilliance at a...

Comments
Leave a Reply