2021 TF South grad driving force behind new breakfast restaurant
PAUL CZAPKOWICZ
LANSING, Ill. (March 25, 2023) – If the food doesn’t get your attention, the name of the place likely will, as an Effin Egg franchise is getting ready to set up shop in Lansing.
The location in the center of a strip mall at 17030 Torrence Avenue used to house a dry cleaning business but will soon serve up gourmet breakfast sandwiches, tacos, burritos, bowls, pancakes, waffles, and its own signature coffee from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Locally-owned
A young Lansing resident, Parth Patel, is the driving force behind the new restaurant.
Salutatorian of the TF South graduating class of 2021, Patel has ambitions beyond running a restaurant.
“I want to be a doctor,” he said. “So I’m going to go to med school. So I wanted to finance that, and a way would be to make a family business.”
Patel said his father, Balwant Patel, who makes his living as an Uber driver, provided the money to start the business.
Parth Patel said Effin Egg is a new concept to the restaurant industry and a growing franchise.
The Effin Egg website shows only locations in Georgia and New York but with others coming soon in several other states. Naperville and Northbrook are other sites in Illinois soon to get a bite of an Effin Egg.
One of the franchise’s sandwiches is the “CEO,” which includes cage-free soft scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, chipotle “Effy Sauce” and a brioche bun.
Patel said economics played a big role in choosing to open an Effin Egg franchise.
“It was very profitable and it’s low cost, that’s why,” he said. “So it’s high margins versus low cost.”
Lansing background
Patel is a product of Lansing School District 158, having attended Reavis Elementary and Memorial Junior High School. He is now a sophomore studying Pre-Med at Concordia University Chicago in River Forest.
Patel said his father suggested finding an existing or closed restaurant space to take over instead of doing an entire renovation, but Patel had other thoughts.
“I wanted to invest in Lansing so it helps out our community,” he said.
Patel said he loves the village where he grew up and remarked on the friendliness of its people.
Patel received permit approval in early February to do construction that he said includes “everything from plumbing to electricity.”
“We have to break up the concrete, put new piping, put new walls, new bathrooms,” Patel said. “Because it was just a shell space.”
When complete, the restaurant should be able to accommodate 30 to 40 people.
There will be no drive-thru nor table service. Customers will be able to order at the counter and eat in or take their food to go.
Construction is nearing completion at the location and Patel is figuring on opening in April or May.
Family affair
The business truly will be a family affair as Patel’s father and his mother, Pallavi, are expected to work at Effin Egg along with his sister, Pruthvi.
“And then we’ll look for employees, as well, if needed,” Patel said.
Pruthvi is a senior at TF South High School and said since she and Parth were young their parents always wanted to open a restaurant. She plans to work either in the kitchen with her mother or at the front counter.
Pruthvi Patel referred to Effin Egg as a “fast casual” restaurant and figures its location near the expressway should attract customers.
“A lot of people, breakfast is their main course….it just makes their day better,” she said.
Pruthvi Patel said she is impressed with her brother’s initiative.
“I’m actually very proud of him because, like, I never thought we were going to open our own business,” she said.
Effin Egg will be located at 17030 Torrence Avenue.
