Empanadas Restaurant Opens in La Grange

Growing up in Argentina, the four Schamber siblings experienced an economic decline and armed robberies. So they moved to the U.S. and, after opening one empanadas restaurant in Riverside, they celebrated their second location in La Grange on Monday.

EmpanadUS keeps the focus simple: empanadas are pastries stuffed with any variety of ingredients, such as chicken, pork, vegetables and more. Each empanada is made from scratch at the restaurant.

The way the siblings got into business isn’t as simple. Argentina’s economic crisis rocked the Schamber family because both parents are architects, and building slowed significantly. When the family was robbed, the children sought security in the U.S., finding a home in Riverside.

Eric, 28; Leslie, 26; Alan, 24; and Kevin, 22; came for school, but they also needed to make money.

“Our parents have always had a business, and they were forced to develop other businesses when construction slowed,’ Kevin said. “That entrepreneurial spirit has been passed along to us.”

Leslie set up a stand at the Chicago Antique Market to sell vintage clothing, which she bought from thrift stores and restored. She only made $50 the first day, and her siblings decided to step in and help with a traditional Argentinian favorite: empanadas.

At the next market, anyone who bought clothing would get a free empanada. They made $350 the next day, and then began selling the empanadas, which proved to be popular.

“As soon as they sold out we knew this had huge potential,” Kevin said. “We have big plans for it.”

The menu also features side salads and alfajor, a traditional dessert in Spain and Latin America, but the focus on empanadas. There’s a wide variety of options, too, such as bacon-and-egg, ham-and-cheese and even apple slices with cinnamon and brown sugar. Each empanada is $2.25, but there are deals for people who buy certain amounts. They can also be sold frozen, as part of a box lunch, delivered or catered.