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December 30
ENGLEWOOD— Peace of Pizza, the unique pizzeria started by an anti-gun violence activist, has closed at 1801 W. 95th Street. The restaurant opened in August.
LAKEVIEW— Tuesday will be Grassroots Grill’s last night at 3747 N. Southport Avenue. The restaurant’s management sent out an email on Sunday stating that New Year’s Eve’s will be the spot’s last service. The owners have operated a restaurant at the space for 24 years. Grassroots opened with a farm-to-table focus in 2015. For the 20 years prior, Deleece operated in the space. Catering operations will continue.
LINCOLN PARK— State, the sports bar run by the family of former Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, closed earlier in December at 935 W. Webster Avenue. A bright green sticker from the Illinois Department of Revenue reads that the bar’s certificate of registration has been revoked (a black marker has crossed out “revoked” and replaced it with “surrendered”). The liquor license had been renewed through May, according to Illinois records. State’s owners haven’t responded to emails. Alexi Giannoulias’s cousin, Kostas Giannoulias, opened the bar in 2006. Despite a hand-written sign on the window reading “closed until further notice,” the space’s real estate broker told Eater the bar was permanently closed and would be up for lease later in 2020. Alexi Giannoulias also runs the Kanela’s Breakfast Club mini-chain, while older brother George Giannoulias is behind Green Street Local in West Loop. Neither brother was ever involved in State, according to Alexi Giannoulias.
ROGERS PARK— SP Kebab, a Rogers Park counter-service restaurant, is closed, according to Yelp and tipsters. It opened in 2011 at 6808 N. Sheridan Road.
ROGERS PARK— Midnight Mac & Cheeserie announced its closure via Facebook at 6979 N. Sheridan Road.
SOUTH LOOP— Mac Kelly’s Green n’ Things, a salad and smoothie restaurant that opened in 2014, closed on December 21 at 1347 S. Michigan Avenue. Management informed customers via an email blast.
PARK RIDGE— Make Room for Truman has closed in suburban Park Ridge. Management made the announcement via Facebook.
WHEATON— Houlihan’s has closed its Wheaton location, and a Facebook post mentioned a bankruptcy case.
December 3
BRIDGEPORT — South Side burger spot Hamburger Heaven Express is closed after a fire tore through the building in the early morning hours of November 29, owner Scott Wishecoby wrote in a Facebook post. No one was injured in the blaze and law enforcement determined that the fire was accidental, according to the Sun-Times. While the business is insured, Wishecoby told reporters, the structure itself is not — he’d like to rebuild and reopen but a low insurance payout may stymie that goal.
LAKEVIEW — Coffeeshop Rewired Cafe closed its original location in late October after two-and-a-half years in business, according to a sign posted to the cafe’s window at 3508 N. Broadway Street. Ownership has not posted about the shutter on social media, leading to some confusion from regulars — one befuddled Facebook poster wrote, “What happened to the Lakeview location?!? Showed up this morning for breakfast and it was gone!” Rewired’s Edgewater Cafe remains open on West Berwyn Avenue.
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LAKEVIEW — Local macaron mini-chain Vanille Patisserie has closed its East Lakeview location, owner Sophie Evanoff wrote in a letter posted to social media today. “The location has not been profitable for some time, and we made the decision to ensure the long-term viability of Vanille,” she wrote, noting her sadness at the 3243 N. Broadway shop’s closure. Locations in Lincoln Park, Hyde Park, and the Chicago French Market are unaffected by the shutter.
OLD TOWN — Italian stalwart Dinotto Pizza e Vino has served its last meal after 30 years in business, according to a now-deleted Facebook post spotted by an LTH Forum contributor. A family-owned business since its founding in 1989, the restaurant was known for its custom volcanic rock wood-burning pizza oven and friendly, festive atmosphere. The space at 1551 N. Wells Street is slated to house a new restaurant soon, so stay tuned for details.
ROLLING MEADOWS — Japanese restaurant Umacamon Japanese Kitchen closed at the end of last month in suburban Rolling Meadows, management wrote in a Facebook post. Originally founded in 2014 at 1673 W. Algonquin Road near popular Japanese market Mitsuwa, the restaurant focused on yakitori, or grilled skewers, shochu, and sushi.
November 19
LAKEVIEW — Neighborhood bar the Land on Lincoln Tavern & Grill closed last week, according to an official Facebook post. It often featured game nights, comedy, and live music at 3032 N. Lincoln Avenue, along with plenty of beer and drink deals.
LINCOLN PARK — Owner Edgar Castaneda has closed the original Taco Joint, representatives wrote in a news release and the Tribune reported. It was the last remaining location after the River North restaurant shuttered last year. The Mexican restaurant at 1969 N. Halsted Street had served for nearly nine years. Castaneda is apparently at work on new ideas for next year, according to the news release.
LOGAN SQUARE — Family-owned spot Heavenly Gelato and Ice Cream Cafe closed last month, Block Club reported, and neighborhood bar and restaurant owner Esam Hani will take over the space at 2662 N. Sawyer Avenue. It’s connected to his newest restaurant, the Old Plank, and Hani plans to repurpose it into an event space for private parties and community gatherings.
RIVER NORTH — Downtown’s Devon Seafood Grill location is closed, representatives wrote in a now-deleted Facebook post. “Devon Chicago was challenged with high rent and increased operating costs, which ultimately led us to the difficult to decision to close, effective immediately,” it read. The Kansas-based company has operated the seafood spot at 39 E. Chicago Avenue for more than 13 years. The suburban Oakbrook restaurant remains unaffected.
THE LOOP — In a shocker, sleek downtown piano bar and restaurant Club 77 closed last week less than two months after it first opened, Crain’s reported. Chef Patrick Sheerin (City Mouse, Trenchermen) told reporters that luring diners into the space at 77 W. Wacker Drive proved challenging. Sandy Chen (Le Sud) opened the restaurant in collaboration with ex-husband Bing Zhou. Chen said she departed the project in September, according to Crain’s.
WICKER PARK — Asian frozen treat spot Rakki Cafe closed this week to prepare for relocation, according to an official Facebook post. Rakki eventually began serving savory homestyle Japanese food too. The post notes that it was a difficult decision to leave its current space at 1375 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Owner Johnny Lee tells Eater that he moved back to LA to pursue new projects but his goal “is to relocate Rakki and open again with a focus on food in the future if the timing is right!”
WEST LOOP — Lauded Lincoln Park bakery Floriole has left Politan Row food hall, the Tribune reported. Fans nearby can still snag some of its baked goods at the Passion House stall at at 111 N. Aberdeen Street.
WEST LOOP — Healthy fast-casual restaurant Square Foods Kitchen closed this month, owner Derin Alemli wrote in a detailed Facebook post. He’ll continue catering services through the end of November. “Unfortunately our location did not provide the foot traffic needed to sustain the overhead of opening our own store,” he wrote. The restaurant at 120 S. Halsted Street first opened in January 2018.
LINCOLNWOOD — Popular mini-chain 90 Miles Cuban Cafe has shuttered its location at 3333 W. Touhy Avenue inside Lincolnwood Town Center, ownership wrote on the restaurant’s website. “There has been a significant rise in the retail apocalypse and closing of stores in malls,” they wrote. “Due to this, we have exercised our right to not renew our lease.” 90 Miles locations in Roscoe Village and Logan Square remain open.
MOUNT PROSPECT — Suburban stalwart Kampai Japanese Steak House closed after 44 years in business at 2330 S. Elmhurst Road in Mount Prospect, according to the Daily Herald. An October Facebook post indicated that the restaurant’s sudden closure was due to equipment issues, but in early November an employee made a follow-up post explaining that ownership has filed for bankruptcy.
NORTHBROOK — Granite City Food & Brewery has shuttered its suburban Northbrook location and the restaurant’s phone number is disconnected. It’s also described as permanently closed on Yelp and OpenTable. The brewpub opened two years ago at 992 Willow Road in Northbrook and the company operates additional Chicagoland locations in Naperville, Rockford, and Schaumburg.
November 5
IRVING PARK — B Side Burger, a burger, hot dog, and milkshake spot, is closed at 3734 W. Irving Park Road as its phone number is no longer in service and its website is defunct. Styled with a retro music theme, the restaurant first opened in fall 2018 and contained a vintage juke box. The space previously housed popular restaurant Bread & Wine.
LINCOLN PARK/BUCKTOWN — Cafe and pastry purveyor Interurban Boathouse is closed to diners at 1438 W. Cortland Street, according to an official Instagram post late last month. Ownership plans to keep the catering side of the business, the post indicates, and the restaurant will be available for private parties.
LOGAN SQUARE — New Orleans-themed gourmet hot dog spot Doggone’s is closed at 3301 W. Armitage Avenue after five months in the neighborhood, Block Club reported. A handwritten sign from co-owners Skip Murray and Sam Elliott taped to the restaurant door read, “We are closing Doggone’s. Thanks for all your patronage!” The pair opened the restaurant in May.
SOUTH LOOP — Hax: Hops & Hamburgers is closed at 733 S. Dearborn Street, owners wrote on Facebook and confirmed in an email. Brothers and co-owners Jim and Ed Hebson closed longtime Printer’s Row pub Hackney’s for rebranding in 2016 and launched Hax a year later. The brothers also operate Gordo’s Homemade Ice Cream Bars in Edgewater and Printer’s Row, which are unaffected by the closure.
Posted by Hax: Hops & Hamburgers on Sunday, October 27, 2019
WEST LOOP — Politan Row Cuban food stall Clave from the team at Ravenswood Cuban-Filipino restaurant Bayan Ko closed Sunday after its six-month lease ended, owners wrote in a detailed Instagram post. “We’ve decided to focus primarily on Bayan Ko and a much better work/life balance,” they wrote.
LAKE FOREST — CNBC host Marcus Lemonis’ suburban restaurant MLG is closed at 181 E. Laurel Avenue in suburban Lake Forest, according to a voicemail recording. Originally called the Grille on Laurel, Lemonis rebranded the 150-seat new American restaurant in 2016. He’s also behind shuttered Wicker Park coffee shop Red Beard Coffee Traders and tangled with Bow Truss founder Phil Tadros in court and the press.
WHEELING — Chinese American restaurant Classic China is closed at 1960 S. Wolf Road in suburban Wheeling and the spot’s phone number is no longer in service. The restaurant first opened in 1988 and owners renovated the space 20 years later.
October 22
ARCHER HEIGHTS — South Side Mexican spot El Sombrero is closed at 4611 S. Pulaski Road, according to city inspection records. The restaurant’s phone number is disconnected as well. A combination restaurant and grocery store, it first opened in 2016.
EDGEWATER — VeRanda Pizzeria and Coffee shuttered suddenly this month at 1100 W. Thorndale Avenue, Edgeville Buzz reported. Owner Bianca Ganvik, who previously operated Apart Pizza in the same neighborhood, posted a notice on the restaurants door that attributes the closure to her employees, writing, “the EMPLOYEES here, have made the final decision to CLOSE these doors.” The restaurant first opened in 2017.
LINCOLN PARK — Mexican restaurant Bistec is closed for reconcepting at 1523 N. Kingsbury Street, ownership wrote in a Facebook post this month. First opened in late 2018, the Mexican restaurant hoped to garner attention for its use of grill tables that allow customers to cook their own marinated meats at the table. The social media post notes that the new restaurant will open in January 2020.
October 8
BRIDGEPORT — Tria, the second-floor Southern Italian restaurant from the owners of Fabulous Freddies Italian Eatery, is “closed for business,” representatives wrote in a brief Facebook post. The Bertucci family first opened Tria in fall 2018 in what was once a private event space above Fabulous Freddies, which opened in 1990, at 701 W. 31st Street.
EDISON PARK — Adored Northern Wisconsin-style bar and restaurant Mecca Supper Club shuttered at the end of September at 6666 N. Northwest Highway. Owner Sarah Hriczo told Block Club that a dispute with the landlord facilitated the closure, and she held a “Bye Bye Bye” farewell event with dancing, a Bears game on TV, and a free brunch buffet with a drink purchase. It remains unclear whether the restaurant will reopen.
GOLD COAST — Longtime Division Street bar Mother’s Too will serve its last drinks October 26, a representative confirmed, five months after ownership group Lodge Management announced that the landlord at 14 W. Division Street declined to renew the lease. For one final hurrah, Mother’s Too is the 2:30 p.m. stop on Division Street’s 39th Annual Halloween Tavern Tour that day.
PILSEN — Sister-owned spot Spilt Milk Market is closed at 1844 S. Blue Island Avenue, co-owners Meg and Molly Svec wrote in an Instagram post. The pair, who wrote that they want to spend more time with their infant daughters, will continue running their Oak Park bakery, according to Block Club.
WEST LOOP — Locally-owned comfort food cafe Ella’s Corner is closed at 1258 W. Jackson Boulevard, ownership wrote in a Facebook post at the end of September. In the post, owners wrote that a new restaurant is slated to open in the Ella’s space, but have not yet responded to requests for more information. The space formerly housed Indian restaurant Tikkawala, which closed after four months.
WICKER PARK — Baked good spot Scone City is slated to close Sunday after four-and-a-half years at 1632 W. Division Street, owner Jessica Canning wrote in a public letter to her customers. Local breakfast and smoothie mini-chain Graze will reportedly open in the space. Block Club has more on this story.
WICKER PARK — 12-year-old sports bar the Boundary closed over the weekend at 1932 W. Division Street, representatives wrote in a news release. Ownership group Bottleneck Management is apparently focusing its “attention on national expansion,” which appears to reference the new locations of its City Works brand, but there’s no word yet on plans for the West Division Street space. The group operates restaurants and bars in Chicago and its suburbs as well as Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota, and Virginia.
HIGHLAND PARK/OAK LAWN — Build-your-own pizza chain Blaze Pizza has closed its last location in suburban Oak Lawn at 6250 W. 95th Street after four years in business, Oak Lawn Patch reported. Management also shuttered the Highland Park store in Port Clinton Square at 600 Central Avenue, leaving some to wonder if the California-based chain is withdrawing completely from the Chicago-area market.
September 24
HUMBOLDT PARK — Neighborhood bistro the Chicago Teachers’ Lounge & Eatery is slated to close after its last service on Sunday at 2525 W. Division Street, ownership wrote in a Facebook post. First opened in 2017, the restaurant focused on ingredient-driven New American dishes. Despite the impending closure, it seems owners have more up their sleeves. “We’re going to take some time for a much needed break, debrief & to brainstorm our next project,” they wrote on Facebook. “Stay tuned for future plans.”
JEFFREY MANOR — Seafood and soul food spot OvaFlo Southern Style Cuisine is transitioning away from its brick-and-mortar location at 9938 S. Torrence Avenue in favor of catering. Ownership alerted customers to the change in a Facebook post. Creative menu offerings include the “soul roll,” an egg roll packed with collard greens, mac and cheese, dressing, yams, and cranberry sauce.
LOGAN SQUARE — 34-year-old Mexican restaurant Dos Amigos served its last customers last weekend, Block Club reported. Owners Salvadore Lopez and Benny Barrios sold the building at 2320 N. Milwaukee Avenue and must vacate by October 1. The buyer plans to open an as-yet unknown establishment, and Lopez hopes to eventually launch his own restaurant outside Logan Square.
PILSEN — Adored neighborhood coffee shop La Catrina Cafe closed Sunday after nearly six years at 1011 W. 18th Street, Block Club reported. Owners first announced plans to sell the business in July and hope to relocate to Guanajuato City in Mexico. Co-owners and husband-and-wife team Diana Galicia and Salvador Corona first opened the community gathering spot in 2013.
PULASKI PARK — Family-owned Northwest Side Italian stalwart Via Veneto will close after dinner service on November 3, owner Tony Barbanente confirmed in a phone call. He sold the building at 6340 N. Lincoln Avenue where the restaurant has served Italian delights for about 35 years. Barbanete also owns Rogers Park pizza spot Anto Pizza Chicago and plans to open a new venue in the future.
ROGERS PARK — Popular national burger chain Five Guys has closed its location at 6477 N. Sheridan Road, management wrote in a message affixed to the restaurant’s door. The Washington D.C.-based brand moved to shutter the shop, situated near the Loyola University’s Lakeshore Campus, after the six-year lease ended, the Loyola Phoenix reported. There are about 38 Five Guys locations in Illinois.
SOUTH LOOP — Juice bar Fruve’ XPress Juicery has closed its location at 1130 S. Wabash Avenue and will relocate to a space about a block away, management wrote on Facebook. The West Loop shop on West Madison Street is still operational, and a representative promised on social media that it will be “opening very soon!”
WEST TOWN — Outer space-themed Atomix Coffee Shop will close at the end of the month after 19 years at 1957 W. Chicago Avenue, ownership wrote in an official Facebook post. Current owner Dan Murphy purchased the business in 2011, and observed a steep decline in revenue starting in 2017. It’s part of a larger turnover he’s observed among neighborhood residents. Former barista Josh Miller, who now owns Damn Fine Coffee Bar in Logan Square, will take over the space, according to Block Club.
WEST TOWN — Adored West Town bar the Rookery closed last week at 2109 W. Chicago Avenue, owners announced in a detailed Facebook post. They cited a shrinking neighborhood market, the high costs of doing business, and the public’s perpetual yearning for something new and different. Opened in 2016, the Rookery gained notoriety for its pop culture pop-ups, with themes including horror classic the Shining and a Fleetwood Mac-focused event called “Rhiannon.”
WRIGLEYVILLE — Beerhead Bar & Eatery Wrigley is shuttered after just five months inside the Addison & Clark development at 3519 N. Clark Street, according to a farewell Facebook post. It was the largely suburban chain’s first Chicago location. Originally called the Beer Market, the restaurant chain first launched in Vernon Hills in 2012. The original site is still operational, as are locations in Schaumburg, Bolingbrook, and Elmhurst.
September 10
NORTH PARK — Family-owned pan Asian restaurant Rice & Roll is closed after more than nine years at 3312 W. Foster Avenue, according to a Facebook post. “There are no words to describe how grateful our family is for taking us in with such opened arms, giving us a chance to reciprocate the feeling through our food,” ownership wrote. The Tiemchaiyapum family first opened the restaurant in 2010.
BRIDGEVIEW — 44-year-old icon Dukes Drive-in closed late last month at 8115 S. Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview, the Tribune reported. Current owner Bill Humphrey, son-in-law of original owner Duke Ziegler, announced the closure on Facebook and plans to reopen at some point in a nearby location. He sold the original property to a developer, citing an offer he simply could not refuse. A Panera Bread location is reportedly planned for the site.
EVANSTON — Hearth, a contemporary American restaurant at 1625 Hinman Avenue in Evanston is closed, representatives wrote in a Facebook post and on the restaurant’s website. The space formerly housed well-regarded restaurant Quince, which shuttered in 2015, and Grant Achatz’ Trio. Hearth moved in just a few months after Quince and served colorful, creative plates.
SCHAUMBURG/WHEATON/ORLAND PARK — Tampa, Florida-based chicken chain PDQ (People Dedicated to Quality) announced that it has closed its three Illinois locations, the Daily Herald reported. Best known for its chicken and sauces, the chain opened its first suburban Illinois shop in Wheaton in 2017. This isn’t the first round of closures for PDQ — in April, leadership closed all locations in Oklahoma.
August 27
BOYSTOWN — Revolucion Mexican Steakhouse is closed at 3443 N. Broadway Street, according to a tipster who shared a photo of a closed sign on the restaurant’s door. It’s also listed as closed on Yelp, and a call to the restaurant went unanswered. Parent group Mariachi Hospitality Group also operates Mexican spots El Mariachi Mexican Steakhouse and El Mariachi Tequila Bar and Grill, as well as Italian restaurant Tutto Fresco.
FULTON MARKET — Fumare Meats, a downtown deli in the French Market best known for its Montreal-style pastrami sandwiches, is closed at 131 N. Clinton Street. Though the website is still live, the deli’s phone number is no longer in service and it’s labeled “closed” on Yelp. Owners have not yet responded to a request for information.
LINCOLN PARK — No-frills hot dog spot Dog Joint appears to be closed. The windows at 350 W. Armitage Avenue are papered over and a big orange sticker is affixed to the door, an LTH Forum poster wrote, and the location is listed as closed on Yelp. The Dog Joint originally opened in 2009. The restaurant’s phone number is disconnected.
PORTAGE PARK — Six-year-old sweets shop Josi’s Frozen Yogurt Cafe is slated to close next month at 4032 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Block Club reported. Owner Barbara Murphy, who raised thousands of dollars for local charities and hosted special events for children with autism, is leaving the industry to pursue social work. She opened the business in 2013 and named it after her children, John and Sifeta.
RIVER NORTH — Fat Baby Tacos is shuttered at 109 W. Hubbard Street. It’s listed as closed on Yelp, and several commenters mention that a sign outside the restaurant reads “Fat Baby Tacos is now closed. Thank you for your business.” It first opened in 2017 with a pop-art interior, tacos, and burritos. The spot was managed by the same group behind infamous late-night spot Boss Bar.
SKOKIE — Sums Chop Suey at 3753 Dempster Street in Skokie is closed and the restaurant’s phone number is disconnected. The restaurant’s website is also defunct, and Yelp lists the location as closed. It first opened in 2007.
August 13
NEAR NORTH SIDE — Luxury retailer Barneys New York is closing stores in Chicago and Rosemont (as well as others around the country) after filing for Chapter 11 earlier this month, according to the Chicago Tribune. With it goes downtown rooftop restaurant Freds Chicago at 15 E. Oak Street. Best known for decadent lunches in an elegant atmosphere, it sat atop the brand’s six-floor flagship space, which first opened 10 years ago. A call to the restaurant went unanswered.
THE LOOP — Fast-casual Italian spot Caffe Baci is closed at 225 W. Wacker Drive and the location was pulled from the restaurant’s website. A call to the restaurant went unanswered, and Yelp lists the closure as well. Once a mini-chain, the 27-year-old brand is now down to a single location in the Loop on North LaSalle Street.
THE LOOP — Personalized hot food, salad, and sushi bar chain Market Creations in Prudential Plaza will close August 30 at 130 E. Randolph Street, the Chicago Tribune reported. A location in Market Thyme at Aon Center in the Loop will remain open. The brand currently operates shops in Illinois and Ohio.
WEST TOWN — Another location of Hero Coffee Bar is slated to close, this time at 1651 W. Chicago Avenue in late September, owner Michelle Martinez confirmed in a phone call. The mini-chain shuttered a Bucktown shop last fall. High rent costs, she said, facilitated the closure. Hero fans needn’t fear — Martinez said she’s currently scouting a new location to open by the end of next year, though she wouldn’t say where. She also plans to debut new charity partnerships and clothing items.
WICKER PARK — Essential sweet treat spot Caffe Gelato at 2034 W. Division Street has a “closed for renovations” sign on the front door, a sight one Yelper found surprising during the dog days of summer. He wrote, “Closed for renovations during the heart of summer, odd. Call before trekking over for a wasted trip like I did.” It remains unclear if the closure is temporary, but a call to the cafe revealed the phone number was disconnected and social media accounts vanished. Management has not yet responded to a request for information.
WHEELING — Texas-based sports bar and “breastaurant” chain Twin Peaks has closed its first Illinois location six-and-a-half years after it first opened at 781 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Wheeling, the Daily Herald reported. The shutter affected 45 employees, according to Wheeling’s director of economic development. The space was previously occupied by a location of chain restaurant and bar Claim Jumper.
July 30
EDGEWATER — Owners of specialty roaster Velox Coffee’s cafe have shuttered the space after just four months, according to a Facebook post. “It’s official,” ownership wrote in the chipper post. “Velox Coffee is out of business!” The shop, which also sold bagels and pastries, first opened in March. The owner doesn’t seem too worried: “Life is a roller coaster, jump on and ride! Keep drinking the good stuff everyone. Catch you on the flip side!”
LINCOLN PARK — Sports bar Derby from Big Onion Tavern group closed last month at 1224 W. Webster Avenue, according to a Facebook post that was since wiped from the Internet, along with the bar’s website, which now redirects to the management group’s page. The location is also listed as closed on Yelp. Representatives have not yet responded to a request for information about plans for the space. Derby first opened in 2011 and was put up for sale in 2017. The space’s former tenant was bar Charlie’s on Webster, which shuttered in 2010.
PILSEN — Neighborhood spot Small Burger closed this month at 1820 W. 18th Street, according to an official Facebook post. The restaurant sold burgers, fries, hot dogs, and more for five years, and owners wrote that they are ready for the next chapter of their lives. The space previously housed the Green Tomato Deli.
PORTAGE PARK — Paleta and snacks shop Chelita’s Homemade Ice Cream is closed at 4442-A N. Milwaukee Avenue, an official Facebook post reports. In the post, ownership indicated that a new ice cream store is slated to open in the space in the near future.
July 16
AVONDALE — Known for Midwestern dishes and a cozy sensibility, B’el Bar and Kitchen is slated to close at the end of July, according to a Facebook post. Located at 3188 N. Elston Avenue, B’el (pronounced “bell”) served Juicy Lucys, fried pork tenderloin sandwich, and more to the neighborhood for two years. The space formerly housed the Dragon Lady Lounge, which shuttered in 2017.
BRIDGEPORT — Northern Chinese favorite Homestyle Taste closed at 3205 S. Halsted Street in late May, South Side Weekly staff lamented in an ode to the beloved spot. Reporters speculated that rising rent costs in the area may have facilitated the shutter. Menu offerings mostly consisted of dishes from the Northern dongbei region, as well as elevated takes on American-Chinese classics like kung pao chicken.
PORTAGE PARK — Deli-inspired neighborhood spot Frunchroom closed at 4042 N. Milwaukee Avenue just over a year after it opened, Block Club Chicago reported. Chef and owner Matt Saccaro announced the shutter on Facebook last week, which he attributed to the small space and flagging revenue in an interview with Block Club.
UPTOWN — Siam Cafe, one of Chicago’s oldest Thai restaurants, is closed, according to Uptown Update. A “closed for business” sign is taped to a restaurant window at 4712 N. Sheridan Road, where locals dined for about 50 years.
EVANSTON — French pastry and coffee shop Cafe Coralie at 633 Howard Street in Evanston is closed, Evanston Now reported. Owners reportedly owed more than $4,600 in payments to the city for an economic development loan totaling $50,000, and nearly $30,000 on rent. Patisserie Coralie on Davis Street in Evanston will remain open.
LA GRANGE — Cheesie’s Pub & Grub’s first franchise location closed late last month at 46 S. La Grange Road in La Grange, according to an official Facebook post. The abrupt closure was due to the franchisee’s wish to part ways with the company, representatives wrote. Locations in Lakeview and Wicker Park remain open, as does the roving Cheesie’s truck.
LOMBARD/AURORA/SKOKIE/GENEVA — Colorado-based chain Boston Market shuttered four suburban locations last week and laid off 80 workers, the Chicago Tribune reported. CEO Frances Allen announced the closures, 45 in all, in a letter to employees and offered to relocate them to other Boston Markets or provide severance. The chain, best known for its rotisserie chickens, still operates 20 locations in the state.
July 2
NORTH PARK — El Santo Taqueria at 3352 W. Foster Avenue is closed and the space is now empty, an LTH Forum poster observed. Staff have discontinued online ordering and the restaurant’s phone has been disconnected, a call confirmed. The Southern California-style street taco spot first opened in March 2018.
RAVENSWOOD — An outpost of Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant at 1758 W. Lawrence Avenue is closed after 20 years in business, Block Club Chicago reported. Owners posted a green sign in the shop’s window thanking residents for decades of support. The Lincoln Square location will remain open.
THE LOOP — Classic American comfort food spot Lloyd’s Chicago closed last month at 1 S. Wacker Drive, owners wrote in a closing notice on the restaurant’s website. “Created in 1984, opened in 1985, Lloyd’s, with your support, had the great pleasure and honor to be a part of your business and dining entertainment, for which we are most grateful,” they wrote.
WICKER PARK — New York-based chain the Halal Guys is closed at 1415 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Though the location is still listed on the website, all signage and furniture were removed. Staff first started serving the neighborhood in spring 2018 after a delayed opening. The Gold Coast, Loop, and Skokie locations remain open.
ST. CHARLES — Sushi spot Shakou closed its location at 312 W. Main Street in St. Charles at the end of June, according to the Daily Herald. This location first opened in 2015. The mini-chain, which first opened in Libertyville in 2013, is planning to convert the stand-alone building into a prep, storage, and corporate space. Owners plan to open a new location in Naperville “soon.”
June 18
ANDERSONVILLE — The long-awaited Furious Spoon ramen shop at 5406 N. Clark Street is closed less than a year after it first opened on the neighborhood’s main drag. A note posted on the door says “We have enjoyed being here very much. Closing our doors in Andersonville was a very difficult decision...” but offers no further explanation. The chain still operates in Wicker Park, Logan Square, Pilsen, Lakeview, and Evanston, as well as locations in Revival Food Hall and the Wells Street Market.
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LINCOLN PARK — Seafood spot Jumbo Crab will close its city location at 1443 W. Fullerton Avenue at the end of June, according to a Facebook post that indicates the restaurant may relocate. The suburban location in Tinley Park will remain open, serving king crab legs, lobster, and more.
NORTH CENTER — Dos Ricco’s Fresh Mexican Kitchen is no longer serving at 4064 N. Lincoln Avenue, according to a Facebook post from chef and owner Ricardo Meza. In the post, he dispelled rumors that he sold the business but said that Dos Ricco’s is “taking a break.” Meza then advertised his catering and private chef services. Representatives have not responded to a request for more information.
PILSEN — Essential Chicago brewery Moody Tongue has closed its tasting room at 2136 S. Peoria Street in preparation for its move to the South Loop. Brewing came to a halt in February and staff began moving equipment into the new space, formerly Baderbrau brewery, in March. Owners plan to open the new brewpub and fine-dining restaurant near McCormick Place in late summer, according to a Facebook post.
June 4
ALBANY PARK — Middle Eastern restaurant Afghan Kabob is closed at 4040 W. Montrose Avenue, owner Nasir Raufi confirmed in a phone call. The space was too small and didn’t offer sufficient parking for his customers, Raufi said, so he and his wife scouted a location in Skokie where they plan to eventually reopen after remodeling the space. The restaurant first launched in 2007.
BOYSTOWN — HB Home Bistro will close at the end of June at 3404 N. Halsted Street, according to an announcement posted to Facebook. Current owners Victor Morenz and Emily Gilbert, who wrote that they intend to return Morenz’s hometown of Cleveland and open a restaurant there, took over the spot in 2013. The Chicago Tribune has more.
RAVENSWOOD — Owners shuttered the Ravenswood location of Dante’s Pizzeria at 1964 W. Lawrence Avenue in May. In an email, partner Georg Simos told Block Club Chicago that owners are still figuring out a plan. Dante’s fans needn’t worry — the New York-style pizzeria’s Avondale and Logan Square locations are still open.
RIVER NORTH — Lobster roll spot Da Lobsta is closed at 416 N. Clark Street. The restaurant’s phone number is disconnected, all social media accounts are deleted, it’s is listed as closed on Yelp, and a “for rent” sign is in the window. No information is available about the status of the restaurant’s food truck. Owner J Wolf first opened the East Coast-inspired restaurant in 2013 in the Gold Coast, before opening the River North location and shuttering the original shop in 2015.
RIVER NORTH — Ramen favorite Slurping Turtle officially closed at 116 W. Hubbard Street on May 30. Staff served steaming bowls of soup noodles and small Japanese plates for more than seven years. Lauded chef Takashi Yagihashi opened the restaurant in 2011, one of the first quality ramen shops in downtown Chicago, but parted ways with the business in 2018. Another Slurping Turtle location is still operating in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but according to management, Yagihashi is not involved.
SKOKIE — Family-run bakery Sweety Pies is slated to close in late August after 12 years, according to a Facebook post. Owners wrote that they are hoping to sell the business at 8042 Lincoln Avenue in Skokie to carry on the bakery’s legacy and interested parties should reach out to them by email. The Chicago Tribune has the story.
May 23
BRONZEVILLE — The Cajun Connoisseur Restaurant is slated to close June 9 at 4317 S. Cottage Grove Avenue after two years in the brick-and-mortar location, according to a Facebook announcement. Owner and Englewood native Kyle Kelly plans to keep serving Cajun delights, including his popular seafood gumbo, through his food truck, pop ups, and catering services.
NORTH CENTER — Breakfast and brunch spot Square Biscuits at 4160 N. Lincoln Avenue is closed, according to a Facebook post. The restaurant first opened in spring 2018. The space formerly housed Mr. B’s BBQ and Smokin’ Woody’s BBQ.
ROGERS PARK — Ethiopian coffee shop Royal Coffee is closed after 10 years in business at 6764 N. Sheridan Road. Owner Yodit Bekeley told the Loyola Phoenix that rising rent costs spurred the shutter, but she plans to source a new location after a short break. In the meantime, she plans to sell coffee at local markets, including Devon Market.
WEST TOWN — Owners of Sip Coffeehouse at 1223 W. Grand Avenue will close its doors permanently next Wednesday, according to an announcement on Facebook. The independently owned coffee shop and cafe first opened in 1999 and the operation doubled in size over the course of its 20-year tenure.
WRIGLEYVILLE — Paul’s Noodle Shop at 3400 N. Sheffield Avenue will close on Saturday, owners wrote on Facebook. The Asian-fusion restaurant took over the former Penny’s Noodles Shop location under the “L” tracks at Sheffield and Roscoe in 2014. An owner confirmed on Facebook that Penny’s Noodles Shop will reclaim the space shortly after the closure.
May 16
EDGEWATER — Little Saigon Baguette is closed at 5251 N. Broadway Street. Owners posted a window sign alerting customers to the last day of service on May 5, as well as their pending move to California, the Chicago Tribune reported. The bahn mi spot first opened in 2015.
GOLD COAST — Division Street staple Mother’s Too bartenders will serve the longtime bar’s last drinks later in the year. A new landlord declined to renew the Lodge Management Group bar’s lease at 14 W. Division Street where it has operated since 1989, according to a news release. Management is holding a “last call” celebration on Friday, May 31 with $6 Woodford Reserve cocktails and commemorative Mother’s Too 20th anniversary glassware included with drink purchases while supplies last.
LINCOLN PARK — Irish pub Hidden Shamrock at 2723 N. Halsted Street is closed indefinitely, operating partner Jeff Schroder wrote on Facebook. Owners first opened the neighborhood bar in 1987. It was the second North Side bar to serve Guinness on tap, the first to use imperial pint glasses, and the first to show live European soccer matches, according to the bar’s website.
LOGAN SQUARE — Local Philly cheesesteak and pizza chain Philly’s Best is closing after 17 years at 2436 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Block Club reported. Ownership decided to focus on the Lakeview and Loop locations as the lease in Logan Square is ending. An exact closing date hasn’t yet been announced.
NORWOOD PARK — Longtime nostalgic diner Big Top closed on May 14 after 43 years in business at 6348 W. Higgins Avenue, Nadig Newspapers reports. A note on the window said its owner retired due to a family illness. It was known for its iconic signage as much as for its diner food.
WICKER PARK/BUCKTOWN — Real Good Juice is closed at 1616 N. Damen Avenue. Management wiped any mention of the location from the Real Good Stuff Co. website and a call to the location didn’t connect. The juice purveyor is still operating in River North, Old Town, the Southport Corridor, the West Loop, Lincoln Park, Streeterville, and Lakeview, in addition to suburban Chicago and Michigan locations.
May 1
LAKEVIEW — After five years in business, Froyo Chicago Cafe won’t reopen for the season at 3746 N. Southport Avenue, according to a Facebook post. After moving his family to the suburbs, the owner wrote that he no longer wished to run the shop remotely.
GOOSE ISLAND — Local icon and produce purveyor Stanley’s Fresh Fruit & Vegetables closed suddenly this month after 52 years at 1558 N. Elston Avenue. Developer Sterling Bay purchased the 61,000-square-foot site in an effort to facilitate its enormous $6 billion Lincoln Yards project. Crain’s had the first story.
OLD TOWN — Starbucks has closed its store at 1538 N. Clark Street on the corner of Clark Street and Germania Place. Fans of the chain needn’t worry: there are at least 20 other locations across the city.
RIVER NORTH — Stout Barrel House and Pizza is permanently closed at 642 N. Clark Street, according to the restaurant’s website, though it also announces a “new concept coming soon.” Management has not responded for requests for information and calls to the location went unanswered.
ROGERS PARK — Leona’s Pizzeria at 6935 N. Sheridan Road is closed, the Tribune reported. Leon Toia, former owner and grandson of the original Leona, sold the chain to an Evanston attorney in 2013. He maintained ownership of the original location at 3215 N. Sheffield Avenue that opened in 1950.
April 9
EDGEWATER — Family-owned cake and cupcake shop Maddiebird Bakery closed at the end of March, owners announced on Facebook. Owners wrote that they needed more time to take care of themselves and their family. The bakery opened in March 2014 at 1445 W. Devon Avenue.
HUMBOLDT PARK — Mexican bar and restaurant Bullhead Cantina at 1143 N. California Avenue seems to be finished. The location is listed as “closed” on Google and Yelp, and a phone call to the restaurant went unanswered. A tipster writes that “stools have been upside down for more than a month now.”
HYDE PARK — This BBQ Supply Co. location at 1301 E. 53rd Street hasn’t seen any activity in months. Owner Jared Leonard said he plans a rebrand, and in the meantime he opened AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q in Denver. When reached Tuesday, Leonard texted that nothing’s official, but wrote, “Heard there’s gonna be hot chicken there.” Stay tuned for more on this.
NOBLE SQUARE — The owner of family-run Wilson’s Hot Dogs, located in the former Flip burger building at 1141 N. Ashland Avenue, told Eater Chicago that he is considering moving nearby. The casual spot, known for burgers, patty melts, and — of course — hot dogs has sat closed for about a month.
OAK PARK — Bar Louie is closed at 1022 Lake Street, according to the Chicago Tribune. The 5,987-square-foot space, now empty and stripped of Bar Louie signage, is listed as “for lease.” Fans of the chain can still visit their many Chicago-area locations including River North, University Village, Printers Row, Hyde Park, Evanston, Skokie, and Schaumburg.
OAK PARK — Mancini’s Italian Bistro owner Natasha Martinez has closed the restaurant at 1111 Lake Street in late March, she wrote in a Facebook post. Martinez began her career as a server before purchasing the restaurant from original owner Al Mancini, who founded the business in 1976 in Berkeley, Illinois.
NAPERVILLE — Two Brothers Brewing bar and deli the Craftsman is temporarily closed for “reconcepting” at 16 W. Jefferson Avenue, according to the Naperville Sun. Owners plan to open the Two Brothers Barrel House, a casual restaurant that will house distillery Two Brothers Artisan Spirits Co., in mid-April.
RIVERSIDE — Owners of Czech favorite Riverside Restaurant, 3422 S. Harlem Avenue, announced they are retiring and closing the restaurant on April 19, 37 years after it opened. An LTH Forum poster noted that the rye bread and goulash will be especially missed.
March 27
CHINATOWN — Chongqing and Sichuan-style restaurant House of Fortune is dark after renovations and menu changes, according to a post on LTH Forum. The poster noted a CBACP ordered closure sign dated late February, and the restaurant is listed as closed on Yelp. A call to the 2407 S. Wentworth Avenue location went unanswered, but the restaurant’s website is still up.
PILSEN — Family-run Italian restaurant Chato’s Pasta House at 1165 W. 18th Street stopped serving three weeks ago, according to a Facebook post. Owners wrote that they needed to devote more time to their children, but will continue to offer catering. The restaurant first opened in August 2017.
OAK PARK — Near suburban bakery and cafe Prairie Bread Kitchen is closing after 24 years at 103 N. Marion Street. Owner Doran Payne told Oak Park Eats that the location’s rapidly rising tax rate was unsustainable and that “property taxes in Oak Park are no laughing matter.” Payne bought the business in 2009 from the original owner, who founded the restaurant in 1995.
ROSEMONT — Shoeless Joe’s Ale House & Grille owner Joe Macchitelli Jr. announced the sports bar’s closing on Facebook after 30 years in the near northwest suburb. Macchitelli wrote that the building’s owners did not respond to requests to extend the lease at 10290 W. Higgins Road, saying “we haven’t received a response from any of our calls, texts or emails in over 2 months.” He told the Daily Herald that he plans to reopen Shoeless Joe’s within five miles of the original site. Shoeless Joe’s has a second location in Addison that remains open.
SKOKIE — Casual eatery Cravelane has shut its doors at 5051 Oakton Street. Transylvanian-born owner Marius Spatacean offered dishes with Eastern European flare, including soups and desserts. The closing was announced on Facebook a little more than a year since the restaurant’s January 2018 opening.
March 21
HUMBOLDT PARK — Coffee shop and cafe Cup & Spoon announced its closing on Facebook after five years at 2415 W. North Avenue. The cafe held a closing event today: “It seems only fitting that on the first day of Spring we will celebrate the beauty that blossomed from this wonderful little shop,” management wrote in a Facebook post. Harrison’s Cafe & Clubhouse will move into the space, and owner Todd Burbo plans to open the multi-use space in April, according to social media.
NAVY PIER — DMK Burger Bar’s Navy Pier location has closed its doors at 600 E. Grand Avenue, according to the Chicago Tribune. The popular burger bar’s three other Chicago locations remain open, including the Lakeview flagship, and the company launched a franchise program in 2017.
WEST TOWN — Lodge Management Group’s Mahoney’s Pub & Grille at 551 N. Ogden Avenue is closing after a weekend-long farewell shindig ending Sunday, March 30. The bar was known for live sports on 22 TVs, a decent craft beer selection, and table games.
EVANSTON — French eatery Jilly’s Bistro at 1512 Sherman Avenue is closed and newspapers cover the windows, according to an LTHForum poster who also noted “I called Jilly’s Cafe and was told that they sold the restaurant,” and Yelp. Sister restaurant Jilly’s Cafe at 2614 Green Bay Road is still open and serving, an employee confirmed by phone.
EVANSTON — First Slice Pie Cafe’s Evanston shop at 1823 Church Street has served its last slices, according to the cafe website. “Our last day of business at the Evanston location was March 15, 2019. Thanks to the Evanston community for all your love & support over the past 3 years,” ownership wrote. Its locations in Andersonville, Ravenswood, and Ravenswood Manor remain open.
March 4
HYDE PARK— Miriam’s Cafe, the food option at the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago, announced it will shutter at the end of the current quarter on March 15. The museum posted that “during a recent routine health inspection—our first since the city instituted new guidelines—we were instructed that significant and highly disruptive work was needed to bring the cafe up to code and maintain operations.” Management will “explore how a re-envisioned cafe, done right and to code, might fit with a broader vision of creating a Museum lobby space that is flexible and welcoming for all.”
LINCOLN PARK— Bar and nightlife spot the Drop Lounge is done after six years at 1909 N. Lincoln Avenue. It liquidated inventory with a “grand finale” party on February 25 with $3 everything, cash preferred. Owner Arthur Knutson posted on Facebook that “we were unable to come to terms on a lease renewal. It appears the building will be moving away from having any nightlife, much like the rest of the neighborhood over the past year.” He hopes to find a new location.
LOGAN SQUARE— Langhe Market, the reconcept of Animale at 1904 N. Western Avenue, closed on February 15. The more-casual spinoff of acclaimed Logan Square Italian restaurant Osteria Langhe first opened in June 2016.
OLD TOWN— Cassava Cafe has remained closed since January’s polar vortex in what was supposed to be a temporary shutter at 1211 N. LaSalle Drive. But the cafe never reopened and there’s now a “for lease” sign on the awning above the entrance. The coffee and boba tea shop opened in 2015.
RAVENSWOOD MANOR— Steingold’s Station, the spinoff of popular new-school Jewish deli Steingold’s of Chicago, closed back in October. Owner Aaron Steingold posted in a neighborhood Facebook group that “we are simply unable to deliver the consistency and quality that we strive for, that you deserve, and that we produce on a daily basis at our flagship location” and that he “will work on finding a space closer to the Manor with an actual commercial kitchen.”
WICKER PARK— Decade-old Italian mainstay Tocco is officially done in Wicker Park. After announcing it would close in March, owner Bruno Abate held its last service at 1266 N. Milwaukee Avenue on February 2. Abate is planning to open a suburban Winnetka location soon and could open city replacement too.
February 18
IRVING PARK— The Irving Park location of Chicago stuffed pizza pioneer Nancy’s Pizza is closed. The phone number is disconnected and an LTH Forum poster reports that a “Closed for Remodeling, Opening January 21st” sign was recently replaced with two large “For Rent” signs, of which there are a photo of on Yelp, on the windows of the restaurant at 3970 N. Elston Avenue. The Lakeview flagship remains open as well as other franchised locations in the suburbs and out of state.
LINCOLN PARK— White Oak Tavern & Inn — formerly John’s Place since 1994 before an acclaimed farm-to-table reconcept in 2014 — officially closed on Sunday after the news broke of the pending shutter on February 7. Owner John Manilow thanked “the entire extended White Oak Chicago family” after its last service yesterday at 1200 W. Webster Avenue. John’s Place Roscoe Village remains open.
RIVER NORTH— After announcing in December it would close and move to Uptown, management of 50-year-old drag club and bar Baton Show Lounge announced its final show at its 436 N. Clark Street location will be Sunday, February 24. But management also announced that its new location in the former Uptown Underground space at 4713 N. Broadway Street will open less than a week later — on March 1.
RIVER NORTH— Ownership of Sapori Antichi Bar Italiano, the downtown Italian spot from a gelato stalwart, says the restaurant at 22 W. Ohio Street has closed. But he also teases that there could be more to the story — and the Yelp page says it is scheduled to reopen on June 1 — so stay tuned.
SCHAUMBURG— Honeygrow, the Philadephia-based fast-casual stir fry chain, is officially out of the Chicago area. The suburban Schaumburg location, which was its only Chicagoland restaurant that remained open after the three city spots closed in November, is now closed too — it’s been removed from the chain’s website, is listed closed on Yelp, its phone number is disconnected, and multiple tipsters report the shutter. The chain arrived in the Chicago market in August 2017.
February 11
THE LOOP— There’s one fewer place for fancy hot dogs downtown. America’s Dog & Burger at 22 E. Randolph Street is no more. A Facebook page post read after 12 years it will head to the suburbs in Evergreen park to open there. Navy Pier and O’Hare locations remain open.
MAG MILE— After nearly three decades, The Oak Tree will reportedly close but could relocate. The restaurant was located at the 900 North Michigan Shops but the owner is looking for a new space, according to Crain’s.
MILLENNIUM PARK— Sterling Bay isn’t just flexing its muscle at Lincoln Yards. The developers, who are also behind Four Corners restaurant group, have bought the Tavern at the Park space, according to Crain’s. The longtime restaurant at 130 E. Randolph Street is a a popular happy hour destination near the Loop, but it will close at the end of the month. It was among the restaurants tangled in the OpenTable scam. The sibling restaurant in Gold Coast is unaffected.
WEST LOOP— After a decade of DJ-fueled dance parties, popular nightclub The Mid officially closed on February 4 — the same weekend Studio Paris had its last hurrah before closing to reconcept — at 306 N. Halsted Street. The Mid ownership announced the pending closure back in October with a statement blaming “recent expansion in the West Loop and Fulton Market District.”
OAK BROOK— After 26 years, Phil Stefani has decided to shutter the Oak Brook location of Tuscany, according to the Oak Brook Doings. March 30 is its last day of business at 1415 22nd Street.
WINNETKA— Restaurant Michael, the acclaimed 14-year-old suburban French restaurant, will hold its last service on March 3, according to a news release and multiple reports. Chef/owner Michael Lachowicz released a short, ambiguous statement that makes it sound like a reconcept: “My team and I aren’t going anywhere... stay tuned for details.” George Trois, the Jean Banchet Award-winning fine-dining operation inside Restaurant Michael, will go on hiatus on March 3 and reopen on May 2.
January 17
EDGEWATER— Andy’s Thai Kitchen has closed its second location, leaving the original intact and operating in Lakeview. The Edgewater restaurant opened in October 2016 at 6230 N. Broadway Street from chef-owner Andy Aroonrasameraung, a respected chef who has wowed Chicagoans with a restaurant that went beyond the usual pad Thai and satay.
PORTAGE PARK— Cochinita Taco Co., the Mexican restaurant that opened in March 2016 has suddenly closed, sources have confirmed. The restaurant was owned by Quay Tao, as he revamped a diner that occupied that same room, The Portage. The space has been listed for sale at 3939 N. Central Avenue.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS— Chicago’s vegetarians have lost a meat-free icon. After 34 years, Chowpatti Vegetarian Restaurant has closed in the Northwest Suburbs at 1035 S. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights. The fusion restaurant featured international flavors in a casual setting.
January 14
LINCOLN PARK— Without any explanation, Fiesta Mexicana closed its Lincoln Park location on Friday night at 2423 N. Lincoln Avenue. An Uptown location continues to operate. The restaurant, near DePaul University’s campus close to the Lincoln/Fullerton/Halsted intersection, was open for 34 years. It’s another sign of change in the neighborhood which has seen several openings and closings in the recent months as the former Children’s Memorial Hospital site gets developed. Staff at the restaurant did not provide a reason for the shutter.
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LINCOLN SQUARE— After 24 years, Korean restaurant Da Rae Jung has closed its doors at 5220 N. Lincoln Avenue. An LTHForum member posted it had been closed for months. Customers enjoyed the restaurant’s homestyle Korean stews and other dishes.
LOGAN SQUARE— Hachi’s Kitchen, a Pan Asian restaurant that spent 10 years in Logan Square, appears to be closed. The restaurant is owned by Jim Bee, who owns Sai Cafe, the Japanese restaurant in Lincoln Park. His family was involved with other Chicago restaurants including the recently closed Dee’s Mandarin and Bob San in Wicker Park. Block Club Chicago reported that the restaurant was supposed to be temporarily closed from August through November, but it never reopened at 2521 N. California Avenue.
THE LOOP— After 52 years, Beef and Brandy closed last week at 127 S. State Street. A Facebook post stated that the owners are looking for a new space for the restaurant and the tavern, the Bar Below.
RIVER WEST— Luke’s Lobster has closed its location at the Merchandise Mart. An employee at its LaSalle Street location confirmed the news while an Eater tipster saw workers last week boxing up supplies at the Merchandise Mart location. It opened in September 2017. The LaSalle location, across from City Hall, opened in 2015 as the New York-based chain expanded into Chicago. It appears that location will continue business as usual.
ROGERS PARK— Over New Year’s, Heartland Cafe closed its doors at 7000 N. Glenwood Avenue. Diners celebrated its shutter as the restaurant represented a community beacon in Rogers Park. Here’s footage of the last item prepared for customers at the restaurant.
It’s official. This was the last meal served at the Heartland Cafe.
Posted by Steve Zalusky on Monday, December 31, 2018
UPTOWN— Pho Lily has shuttered at 5100 N. Broadway Street, part of the cluster of Vietnamese restaurants in Uptown. Phone calls go straight to voicemail while Yelp reported the restaurant was closed. It had been open since 2011.
