Rick Tafton said he remembers walking into Wilbur’s grocery store in Mokena with his mom when he was about 5 years old. Years later, he often pedaled his bike to the pharmacy next door to get baseball cards and ice cream with his friends, he said.

A little over a year ago, Tafton returned home after opening restaurants across the area and started plans to open his own restaurant, The Dock on Front Street, in the building that once housed Wilbur’s.

The Dock opened in early August, and Tafton said the community response has exceeded expectations. The restaurant has served at least 7,500 people so far, he said.

Tafton said there’s at least an hour wait for tables on the weekends and a full house on weekdays that makes it feel like a Saturday.

Working in the building that housed his childh

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