Deaths: Popular Crystal Lake (Illinois) Restaurant Owner Frank Martinetti

FRANK MARTINETTI 1909-2007

Owned Popular Restaurant in Crystal Lake, Illinois

Frank Martinetti, 98, died June 24th in Crystal Lake. He was the owner of the very popular Martinetti's Restaurant which operated from 1946-1955 and 1957 to 1976. His was among the very first area restaurants to offer a salad bar, an all-you-can-eat Friday fish fry (very popular in the Chicagoland area), Wednesday all-you-can-eat chicken, and Sunday buffets. All his steaks were hand cut, usually by Mr. Martinetti himself..

He was born in 1908 and after sixth grade, prepared to work in the coal mines. But they closed at that time, so he went into construction and factory work. In 1933, he married Lucille, who already owned a grocery store. She taught him how to merchandise and how to butcher a whole cow.

In 1937, he built Rockford's first supermarket, the Kishwaukee Farmer's Market, which was the first in the state with open air produce coolers.

In 1946, they bought property on US Route 14 in Crystal Lake (where a present-day Pontiac dealership is located). They built a restaurant, lounge, 30 room motel, and a personal residence on it, but unfortunately, it all burned down in a fire in 1955.

They then moved to Las Vegas and operated a health food store for two years before returning to Crystal Lake, where they rebuilt Martinetti's on the same site. It had a 500 seat restaurant, a lounge featuring a theater pipe organ, a 24-hour coffee shop, and a 100 room motel.

Mr. Martinetti and his wife epitomize the American can-do/hard work ethic. They were truly the mom and pops of the road.

From The Northwest Herald- July 7, 2007 "Owner of CL eatery led a full life" by Sarah Sutschek.