Tom Catalano looks on approvingly as three clean-cut, dead-eyed guys slouch under a wall of electric guitars. Members of the Ukrainian rock band Yavyshche, they’re scarfing gyros before heading off to practice.
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Catalano says the place is a success because he runs a clean ship and serves good food with friendly service. But the visual impact of rows of bright, shiny, lacquered Strats, Gibsons, and Ricks catercorner to rows of sweet, shiny, glazed crullers, bismarcks, and bear claws must trigger some primitive pleasure receptor in the brain to keep guitar sales going at odd hours.
Catalano has dabbled in psychologically manipulative business practices before. In 1969, when he was 19, he, his brother, and a friend opened a head shop called the Ox–featuring a wide selection of bongs, pipes, and black-light posters–inside the buffet-style Paul Bunyan restaurant in Old Town. Years later he ran a place in a mall in Matteson he named Zoo Cookery, selling candy, ice cream, cookies, hot pretzels–and stuffed animals.
Tommy’s Rock & Roll Cafe, 2500 W. Chicago (773-486-6768), is open Monday through Friday 6:30 AM to 6 PM and Saturday 7 AM to 4 PM. –Mike Sula
