Rebuilding a Legacy: Green Gables Bar & Grill Uses GoTab

Bringing a Beloved Community Landmark Back to Life

OVERVIEW: For nearly a century, Green Gables Bar & Grill has been a fixture at Lake Bloomington, Illinois. The restaurant opened in 1929 during the Great Depression as a humble gas station and grocery stop for lake residents. It later became known for its iconic smash burgers, tasty beer, and unshakable sense of community.

When Amy Tague’s grandfather bought the business in 1952, he brought with him a spirit of innovation and service. “My grandpa saw something special here,” said Tague, who is a third-generation owner. “He added a grill, started cooking burgers, and it became a place where people gathered, laughed, and made memories.”

Amy grew up in the business, helping her grandfather with deliveries and ice cream orders before she could even drive. “It’s always been part of my life,” she said. “Everyone in my family has had a hand in it at some point.”

Over the decades, Green Gables remained in the family. Her aunt and uncle operated it briefly in the 1980s before passing it to Amy’s parents, who ran it for more than 30 years. In 2021, Amy officially bought the restaurant from them, determined to carry the family legacy forward.

Then, in May 2022, tragedy struck. A fast-moving fire fueled by heavy winds destroyed the historic building. “It was heartbreaking,” Tague said. “The whole community came out that day. People stood by the road and watched because Green Gables meant something to everyone here.”

Even in the ashes, Tague saw hope. “Everybody misses the old place, but it ended up being kind of a silver lining,” she said. “The old building had sagging floors and bad plumbing, so this gave us the chance to start fresh and build something even better.”

The Tague family invested more than $1.2 million to bring the restaurant back to life, reopening in May 2024 with expanded seating, a game room, an updated menu, and an outdoor patio. “It’s everything we always wanted it to be,” she said. “People loved the old place, but this one finally matches the vision we had.”

After testing a few POS systems that didn’t quite meet the restaurant’s needs, Green Gables implemented GoTab in September 2025. Just a few months in, the partnership is already proving to be a strong fit.

Here’s why:

‍
- Guests can start tabs before being seated using QR codes at the host stand, increasing bar revenue and enhancing the pre-dining experience.

- Operational efficiency has grown thanks to intuitive handhelds and a flexible POS platform that adapts to daily demands.

- Management can now control menu updates, modifiers, and pricing instantly without outside assistance.

- Communication between servers and the kitchen is seamless through GoTab’s KDS, eliminating paper tickets and delays.

Finding The Right Fit: GoTab Enters The Picture 

When it came time to choose the technology that would power the new Green Gables, Amy Tague knew she had to get it right. A high school business teacher by trade and a researcher by nature, she approached the decision with the same thoroughness she teaches her students.

“When it came to choosing a POS system, I wasn’t going to guess,” Tague shared. “I researched, compared, and talked to other business owners who had been through the same process.”

The family’s first step toward modernization came when Green Gables began accepting card payments for the first time ever. “We had been cash-only since my grandfather’s time,” she said. “When we finally switched, we saw a $30,000 increase in sales in the very first month. That confirmed how much opportunity we’d been missing.”

Encouraged by that success, Tague started researching technology partners, but the road wasn’t easy. “We tried two other systems before GoTab,” she said. “One had constant payment failures, and the other created duplicate accounts that caused endless service headaches. I was spending more time troubleshooting than running the business.”

That experience drove her to dig even deeper. “I’m a researcher,” she said. “I started watching reviews from Dave Allred (TheRealBarman) on YouTube because he does really detailed POS evaluations. I also talked to friends at Analytical Brewery, who told me about their experience switching to GoTab. Between that and what I found in my own research, it was clear GoTab stood out.”

In September 2025, Green Gables officially switched to GoTab, and Tague immediately noticed the difference.

“From the start, it was smoother and faster,” she said. “The onboarding process was simple, the team was responsive, and everything just worked. I can text or call and get help right away. That level of service is something I’ve never experienced before.”

A Smarter Way To Serve

Since implementing GoTab, Green Gables has found a new pace that blends efficiency with hospitality. Tague said the technology fits the restaurant’s fast-paced environment without sacrificing its charm. Guests can now scan a QR code at the host stand to order a drink while waiting for a table. Tabs open instantly on their phones, giving servers immediate access to orders and keeping both the bar and the guests happy.

Inside the restaurant, the switch to handheld devices and a kitchen display system has transformed daily operations. Paper tickets and shouted orders are a thing of the past. Orders now appear on the kitchen screen within seconds, automatically prioritized in real time. The result is a faster, more consistent workflow that’s less stressful for everyone.

The upgrade has also improved communication between the front and back of house. Before GoTab, handwritten tickets and verbal updates could easily be lost in the shuffle. Now, every team member can see what’s happening in real time. Cooks bump items off as they’re completed, and servers instantly know what’s ready. Tague called it “a game-changer” for staff coordination.

Guests have noticed the difference, too. Instead of waiting in line at the bar, guests now get immediate service. They can order drinks or appetizers as soon as they arrive, which Tague said creates a smoother flow and a stronger first impression.

Online ordering has opened another lane of opportunity. Instead of taking to-go orders over the phone and jotting down details, customers can now place orders online, pay upfront, and get a text when their food is ready. “It’s fast, accurate, and one less phone ringing off the hook,” Tague said.

She’s also found that GoTab’s flexibility gives her the kind of control every small business owner wants. Menu updates, price changes, and modifiers can be adjusted in minutes without a service call. “GoTab isn’t a one-size-fits-all system,” she said. “It adapts with us.”

For Tague, the best part is how the technology enhances rather than replaces the human experience. GoTab, she said, allows her team to focus on what matters most -- the people and community. “That’s what makes it special,” she said.

Amy Tague: ‘Rebuilding Was Worth Every Ounce of Effort’ 

When Green Gables reopened, it felt less like a grand opening and more like a homecoming. "There were lines out the door for weeks," Tague said. "People were emotional walking in. Some brought photos from decades ago or told me stories about coming here with their grandparents. It reminded me that this place isn't just about burgers and beer; it's about belonging."

The reopening became a symbol of resilience for the Lake Bloomington community. Regulars who had watched the fire in silence two years earlier now stood shoulder to shoulder again, cheering as the doors opened. "People hugged our staff. Some even cried," Tague said. "They said, 'We didn't realize how much we missed this until it was gone.' That's when I knew rebuilding was worth every ounce of effort."

Amy's parents, who ran the restaurant for more than thirty years, still find ways to stay involved. "My dad can't stay away," she said, laughing. "He's out there plowing snow in the winter or checking in to make sure everything looks just right. It's still a family effort."

One moment that stands out to Amy came during the first week back in business. "A man stopped me outside and said, 'I proposed to my wife right over there at that barstool thirty years ago.' Then he looked around and said, 'It still feels like home.' That's the kind of story that keeps me going," she said.

GoTab has helped make those moments possible by freeing up Amy's time to focus on people instead of logistics. The modernization has also given her more breathing room. "Before, it was just me and my husband," she said. "If someone called off, we worked. Now we have managers, and I can focus on teaching, strategy and community."

Plans are already underway to add a stage in the beer garden for performances and  live music nights. "We're already planning events for next summer," Tague said. "Last year we were just trying to get open, but now we're busier than ever. GoTab has helped lighten our load so we can actually focus on growing and enjoying what we built."

For Amy Tague, Green Gables isn't just a restaurant; it's a legacy rebuilt, a family restored and a community renewed. "Every time I walk in, I think about my grandpa and how proud he'd be," she said. "The building may be new, but the heart of Green Gables hasn't changed. It's still about good food, good people and a place that feels like home."

And GoTab is right there with them.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
Venue: Green Gables Bar & Grill, Lake Bloomington, Illinois
Opened: 1929; destroyed by fire in 2022, rebuilt and reopened May 2024
Owner: Amy Tague, third-generation owner; Prior to her, the restaurant was owned by other family members
GoTab Implementation: September 2025
GoTab Tools Used: POS system, handheld point of sale, Kitchen Display System (KDS), QR code ordering and payment, and online ordering

Why It Works:
GoTab gives Green Gables the technological backbone to run an iconic restaurant business with speed. Its cloud-based POS, handheld ordering, and KDS system work together in real time, eliminating friction between front and back of house. Guests can start their tabs from anywhere and their orders instantly sync to the bar and kitchen. The open, cloud-based design lets Amy and her team adjust menus, pricing, or modifiers on the fly, with updates reflected across every device in seconds.

By integrating payment, ordering, and communication into one unified system, GoTab allows Green Gables to maintain its personal, small-town hospitality while operating with the speed and efficiency of a modern enterprise. The technology doesn’t just process transactions; it powers a smarter, more connected restaurant where every click, ticket, and tab works in sync.

‍