Josephine Zangrilli

COMMANDING THE CROWDS Sitting off of Ridge Road, Commander Family Restaurant served customers from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. With an extensive menu ranging from breakfast items to beloved dinner items, Commanders kept their doors open for 45 years.

Searching for a part time job and seeing a familiar name, the “Commander Family Restaurant,” senior Nicole Katona couldn’t help but feel compelled to apply. After working there for five months as a hostess, owners and brothers Danny and Bobby Sirounis announced that the establishment would be sold to Honey Jam.

“I would seat people, ring them up at the register and take the phone,” Katona said. “We won’t have to interview with Honey Jam because they are hiring everyone back.”

Honey Jam, a Chicagoland breakfast diner with multiple locations, bought Commander after the business had been on the market for multiple years. Although Commander shut their doors last Sunday, many of the longstanding staff members hope to find employment within the new restaurant. Similarly to Katona, senior Gavin Dafnis plans to continue working at Honey Jam.

“I’ve been there for almost a year,” Dafnis said. “I am mainly staying because some of the old management is going to be there. Melissa, who’s worked at Commander for over ten years, has made the experience enjoyable and has made me want to continue working there.”

Commander has made its mark on the community since its opening in the 70s. Nestled off of the corner of Ridge Road and Calumet Avenue, the family-run restaurant has been a staple for the food scene in Munster.

“I have been going there for a very long time,” Munster resident Patty Pfister said. “They have great service, great food. They will be missed.”

Pfister, like many other customers, ordered a bowl of the lemon rice soup whenever she dined at Commander.

“Their lemon rice soup was very good, especially,” Pfister said. “I can see why they had business non-stop.”

Even though Commander may no longer retain its original name, Katona doesn’t believe that the same rush of residents will go away anytime soon.

“I think Honey Jam will be successful because most of the staff is coming back and it will not be all that different from Commander, except that they won’t have dinner,” Katona said.

“I think what made it special was how much everyone loved Commander, both staff and customers,” Katona said. “Everytime I worked, it was guaranteed that I would see the same faces everytime.”