John Meyer
The Retreat
605 E. 111th St.
773-568-6000
Southern
BJ’s Market & Bakery
8734 S. Stony Island Ave.
312-595-0800
Food for the Soul
When John Meyer opened an upscale restaurant in 1992, he admits, it was “very scary.” Although he had no experience, he decided he had to try. “A lot of times we failed, but we got right up,” he says. “I had to learn the business very quickly. Most restaurants fail within the first two years.”
Located in a Pullman mansion, the Retreat -- now run by his wife, Hope -- became a hit. Five years later, he opened the more casual BJ’s Market & Bakery (“Food for the Soul”), which he runs. The cuisine at the Retreat, he says, is American with southern and French influences, whereas BJ’s Market is “soul, southern and Cajun comfort food.” His goal is to open a chain of BJ’s.
Meyer was reared on the south side (his mother was a great cook), attended St. Ignatius College Prep and graduated from Chicago State with a marketing degree. He then entered the two-year program for chefs at Washburne, and not long afterwards was in business.
By far, his most popular offering at both places is mustard fried catfish. “It’s a Cajun dish. We mix a yellow mustard with a Creole mustard, as well as different seasonings.” The thing is, he admits with a grin, “my Mom doesn’t really like it. She keeps asking me, ‘Why do you put that mustard on it?’”