Scott Zimmer, former owner of the popular Riverside restaurant The Chew Chew Café, is poised to make a comeback in the village.

Reached by e-mail Monday, Zimmer confirmed that he plans to open a full-service restaurant at 31-33 E. Burlington St., storefronts that for many years housed a bakery and a travel agency.

“It is too early to discuss the concept and menu details,” Zimmer stated. “It is changing everyday as I learn about the building, work on the design and budget.”

Zimmer has owned the storefront and second-story residential unit at 31 E. Burlington St. since 2005, when he bought it from Linda Acker for $285,000. At the time, the storefront housed Provo’s Bake Shoppe.

Provo’s was closed Dec. 31, 2007, after an ongoing rent dispute between Zimmer and Provo’s owner Wesley Kuras. A bakery had occupied the storefront at 31 E. Burlington St. since 1945.

But the way for a new full-service restaurant was paved when Zimmer worked out a deal to purchase the storefront at 33 E. Burlington St., which has been the longtime home of Travel With Tower.

“It’s in the process of being sold,” said Marilyn Lopata, owner of Travel With Tower.

“Hopefully it’ll close at the end of the month.”

Travel With Tower has called 33 E. Burlington St. home since 1967 after two years at another address on the street. Marilyn Lopata joined the business in 1969.

Lopata said that her business will be merging with Carlson Wagonlit Travel in Western Springs, and that she will be working from their office beginning in April.

Arcade Jewelers, which rented space at Travel With Tower beginning in March 2006, has already vacated the property. However, Arcade Jewelers owner Kay Snyder said last week that a new space for the business has already been lined up at 51 E. Burlington St.

Snyder said that business, which will be a partnership with her daughter, Robin Snyder Mooney, will be open in May.

Zimmer said that his plan is to link the two storefront spaces to create a new restaurant. He indicated that it would be different from the Chew Chew Café, which called the Arcade Building at 1 Riverside Road home for 11 years before closing last summer.

“I hope to build a restaurant that Riverside will be proud of,” Zimmer said. “I know many people miss the Chew Chew – and so do I – but this will be a different concept in a new location.

“We made a lot of people happy – I hope we do it again.”