HH_052418

8 | May 24, 2018 | The Homer Horizon NEWS
homerhorizon.com
The Rubi Room opens in same building as Homer Glen restaurant
Rubi Agave expands
to offer versatile
space for customers
Thomas Czaja, Editor
The business was already
one that offered food, drinks,
dancing and entertainment
to its patrons, and it now is
taking the next step in what
it can provide.
Homer Glen’s Rubi Agave
Latin Kitchen, Tequila and
Whiskey Bar has become
well-established in the community
for its fare, cocktails
and lounge/supper club setting.
Given its success, owner
and executive chef Ruben
Pazmino could easily have
been satisfied with leaving
things as they were.
But when the request and
idea for The Rubi Room
came about, Pazmino envisioned
the addition as
something that would be
worthwhile for customers.
The new room is in the same
building as Rubi Agave, but
on the right-hand side, further
toward the back of the
structure and not directly
connected to the main restaurant
and bar.
It is a multi-purpose space
that can serve any number
of functions, whether for
graduation parties, wedding
and baby showers, or as a
classroom setting, according
to the owner.
“One customer actually
came in and wanted to do a
private event for a shower,
and we had space for it, but
they wanted something completely
secluded from the
rest of the restaurant, and it
always stuck in my mind,”
Pazmino recalled of how
the idea of The Rubi Room
originated. “This space finally
became available, and,
boom, I jumped on it.”
The Rubi Room, which
began being constructed at
the start of February, took
three months to complete.
Pazmino said his vision for
it was something not as “aesthetically
extreme” as the vibrancy
of Rubi Agave’s colorful
hues, so he focused on
creating something that felt
like it could simultaneously
be a setting for a corporate
event or some sort of family
party or gathering.
The need to house extra
office space in his efforts to
expand on catering and marketing
also made The Rubi
Room the perfect solution,
as the space also serves that
purpose for Pazmino.
It may also be an ideal solution
for those looking to
have a space for their function
instead of needing to
worry about cleaning and
prepping at home.
“Sometimes, you don’t
want to clean the mess,”
Pazmino said. “You just
want to walk and leave.”
He added that he feels
the room is a good middle
ground — not as expensive
as a banquet hall, but nicer
than going to a cheaper bar.
The room is also capable
of housing seminars, as Rubi
has various tables, a projector
screen and sound system
that Pazmino said is state-ofthe
art.
The room is reserved and
can be booked for one hour,
two hours or even the whole
day, if requested.
“Whatever you need,”
Pazmino said.
Besides all the above,
Zumba and salsa classes
have been taking place in the
space already, too. It has a
maximum occupancy of 120
people, and Pazmino is looking
to hire somebody to be
in charging of booking the
room out.
Whether a political or religious
group wants to use
the space, or ideas are suggested
to the owner — with
one patron commenting it
would make a great karaoke
space — all are welcome to
A sign for The Rubi Room greets guests when they first walk into the new space, which
is in the same building but separate from Rubi Agave Latin Kitchen, Tequila and Whiskey
Bar in Homer Glen. The Rubi Room held its first official event earlier this month. Photos by
Jacquelyn Schlabach/22nd Century Media
The Rubi Room is a versatile space that can be used by a variety of groups for different
purposes, whether family parties, corporate events, fundraisers, rehearsals, art galleries,
classes and more.
The Rubi Room.
“We are going to throw a
lot of ideas out there in our
advertising,” Pazmino said.
The first official event in
The Rubi Room involved a
big name stopping by while
visiting Homer Glen. Illinois
Gov. Bruce Rauner was
in attendance for a meeting
with local Republicans in the
space earlier this month.
But whether the governor
or just a normal family
in town, The Rubi Room is
flexible. Pazmino said guests
can bring their own food, if
they choose, though the restaurant
will cater. The only
catch is the business has to
provide any alcohol, meaning
none can be brought in.
Beyond that, all other details
can be accounted for,
including what the food goes
on and is eaten with.
“We can take care of all
that — table skirting, utensils,
plates, whatever it is
needed,” Pazmino said.
Rates for The Rubi Room
begin at $50 an hour. As
long as the schedule for the
room is open, there is no
problem in accommodating
as much time as needed.
It is an exciting time for
Rubi, as the warm weather
has brought with it the reopening
of the pergola outside,
as well as new seasonal
summer food and drink
items at Rubi Agave.
“We’re adding a summer
menu, changing up our
cocktails a little,” Pazmino
said. “We will have a little
more exotic, fresh fruits like
guava, dragon fruit, that type
of stuff.”
Two drinks fitting this
summer mold that can be
served in The Rubi Room are
the mango mojito ($9.95),
which is a concoction of
rum, muddled spearmint,
fresh lime juice and sugar,
and the strawberry jalapeño
Ruben’s margarita ($10.95),
which is mild but can be
made spicier and comes with
strawberry, orange juice,
tequila, muddled jalapeños
and triple sec.
For food, one new summer
selection is the cabana
shrimp tacos ($15), which is
tiger shrimp dipped in Corona
beer batter that comes
with rice, salad and beans.
Another upcoming addition
is a chef’s table, which
Pazmino said he will use to
cook made-to-order plates in
front of patrons in a setting
that is ideal for hosting small
parties of six to eight people.
The owner is always looking
to take customer feedback
and evolve his business,
and The Rubi Room
is the next major precious
stone in that development.
“I think people will like
it,” Pazmino said of The
Rubi Room. “A lot of people
need space [like that].”
For more information on
The Rubi Room, call (708)
966-2801. Those inquiring
can also call Rubi Agave, located
at 12622 W. 159th St. in
the same building as The Rubi
Room, at (708) 301-8006.
Those interested in learning
more can also visit www.
rubiagave.com.