Past Lives

The Story Behind Skokie's Hottest Restaurant, Libertad

Imagine landing at a foreign airport with only $1 in your pocket. What would you do? And do you think you could go on to open one of the hottest restaurants in the area? Hear the story of Libertad's owners Armando Gonzalez and Marcos Rivera.

Armando Gonzalez first came to America from Mexico with only four quarters in his pocket. The money was supposed to be used to call his brother in Chicago to pick him up from O'Hare International Airport. Unfortunately, his brother never picked up, and Gonzalez found his way home by taking a train system he'd never seen before. That was in 1985, when Gonzalez was only 17. Fast forward to today, and the Mexican immigrant is cooking up a storm at Skokie's hottest restaurant, Libertad. Earlier this week, Chicago Magazine named it one of the top 20 newest restaurants in Chicago. The 35-year-old Gonzalez was at his restaurant at 7931 Lincoln Ave. on Tuesday. Before sitting down with Patch, Gonzalez was in the kitchen, coordinating with two …

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