Meet TL Lewis | Chicago takeout joint

We had the good fortune of connecting with TL Lewis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi TL, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
At the time I had suffered a head injury at work, and it put a lot of things in perspective with the most important being that I could not leave my job to my family if my injury had been worse than what it was and being a number at a company no one would care about my family if in fact that was my end. I then thought about how much time I had given this job over my family with the understanding that, that would have been my biggest regret had my injury ended me. So, questions were how I could change this? The blessing was the concussion specialist told me that I could not be around loud noise, or I’d suffer with migraines. That was the environment of the airport, LOUD. That also took away music which I was a part of as a performer and producer. So, I need to look for another line of work, but my mind state was a job that would give me time with my family. We all know it doesn’t exist, so I then thought about doing something I’d love to do for the rest of my life and something I could make my family a part of. When I was young, I worked at a Vienna back home in Chicago called Terry’s Place and brother and I would talk about doing that when we got old. We wanted to come in like Terry and hang out and have fun in our older age. So decided to do it. Us implants here from Chicago always find ourselves going home to bring back foods we can’t find here in Atlanta so I said that would be my idea. I lost my brother in 2002 but since this was our plan I named it after him, Baby AL / Buff were his nicknames. Our intent is to give people a classic taste of Chicago. I’m using recipes that were taught to me by Sweet Joe rest his soul and Glen when working at Terry’s from a kid to adulthood and changed nothing.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
No, it was not easy. Each day and year present a different challenge. Among them were covid which many did not survive but we did. We had to change some things, Restructure and adapt but we did. Like many businesses that closed we did not get the helping hand from the Government and could have closed the doors, but we took to catering which was a saving grace. Giving all blessings we have overcome price increases, shipping price hikes, product availability issues and staffing shortages. I had a background in training, and this applied to us where I trained my family to do something they had never done before and in my opinion they do it better than many of the people I worked with in the Vienna chains. But given two of my kids were preteens I’m impressed when I say this. I would like to think that while we have watched so many places open and close while claiming to be the best and better than this place and that place, our intent is plain and clear. It is to be the best “US” we can be. While our focus is on providing the classic taste you remember from home, we don’t get caught up in the who’s better than who conversations but for ten years we can say that the outpouring of love from people who visit from back home and those who have transplanted like us is tremendous. I think what sets us aside is we make majority of our items in house, and the people can appreciate the fresh taste. Where some use frozen Italian Beef, which is our signature sandwich ours is cooked and cut daily by us. Peppers and sauces are as well which makes from long days and long nights, but it gives us the consistency and quality we look for. Things I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is fear of the unknown holds many of us back. I feared opening this because of previous failures and the possibility of another failure, people I knew told me the salary I had would never be reached again if I had to start over at my age and I may want to consider just dealing with migraines. The person I worked for quoted stats about how many restaurants failed in the first two years when I was resigning. They all had one thing in common, none of them had ever jumped off the cliff. Listening to them or my fears would have been like letting a person with no passport tell you about the world. I jumped off the cliff and with all the ups and downs giving God the glory we’ll be celebrating 11 years in a few months.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m a home body and like I said earlier my intention was to spend more time with my family, so I enjoy family movie nights and game nights. When we go out it is mostly to see our son who is a professional wrestler “Terry Yaki” or his girlfriend “Jazzy Yang”. We do all our own cooking in our restaurant when we want something but if we do go out hands down it is Iron Age (Duluth) or Studio Movie grill (Duluth). But if I’m back home in Chi Pete’s on Roosevelt and Gene N Jude no doubt.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to say my family. They have stood behind every decision I have ever made and pushed me changing and modifying their lives to stand beside me. They have put in more hours than expected over these ten years to help our business a succeed. My little sister who is always my wise counsel. A special shout out to my wife for over 30 years she still drives me, believes in me and keeps me sturdy, the true power behind the throne. I have to say Terry’s Place without that spot there would not be an us and last but not least my brother Buff/Baby AL may he rest in heaven, I do this to honor your name. LLE

Website: https://www.babyals.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheBabyALs

Twitter: https://www.twtter.com/TheBabyALs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBabyALs

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/baby-als-lilburn