A rendering of Tom & Eddie’s set to open in the Lombard, Ill., Yorktown Center details the restaurant’s use of warm brown and orange tones. The restaurant will feature several distinct seating areas including a lounge section with fireplace.

Tom & Eddie’s was created by Tom Dentice and Ed Rensi. The pair met in 1966 while they were working as McDonald’s managers. This rendering shows another aspect of Tom & Eddie’s interior.

Images of fresh produce and ingredients will be showcased along the restaurant’s walls. Co-founder Tom Dentice said the men are looking to create a gathering place where customers can enjoy a high-quality dining experience at an affordable price.

The approximately 2,500-square-foot restaurant will feature a commissary and a parking station for strollers. During concept development, co-founders Ed Rensi and Tom Dentice put hundreds of research hours into the restaurant.

This area highlights where the fireplace and lounge seating station will be. Tom & Eddie’s is moving into a location formerly occupied by Boudin Bakery.

The Yorktown Center location has several signs in the window announcing the arrival of Tom & Eddie’s. The gourmet burger concept will feature menu items such as The Blue Chip, Baby Bella & Swiss, and a hot dog called Windy City Jamaican.

Tom & Eddie’s co-founders Tom Dentice and Ed Rensi relied on their background as self-proclaimed foodies when they created the restaurant’s menu. Rensi said the menu was 50% chef driven and 50% driven by both Rensi and Dentice.

Rensi came up with the idea to launch his own burger concept after he considered becoming a Smashburger franchisee. But when an area-developer agreement couldn’t be made, “I was told to just do it from scratch,” he said.

The first Tom & Eddie’s location to open will feature an outdoor seating area for an estimated 20 guests.

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Other restaurants in Yorktown Center, The Shops on Butterfield, include D.O.C American Bistro & Wine Bar and Brio Tuscan Grill, shown here.

Tom Dentice (right) and Ed Rensi (left) discuss construction plans for Tom & Eddie’s. The men have been friends for 44 years.

With Tom & Eddie’s, Dentice and Rensi work hard to appeal to multiple demographics. When asked by granddaughter to slow down, Rensi replied, “I don’t have much time left so I need to work harder.”