Augie's closing

Thought some of the Northsiders would like to know that Augie's on Clark, just south of Balmoral, is closing.

The sign in the window says that Augie and Florence will have their last day on August 22 - and I think it said this was their 53rd year.

Augie's Restaurant
5347 N Clark St
(between Balmoral Ave & Summerdale Ave)
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 271-7868

Oh that restaurant's in my neighborhood - any good? I've never heard of it and don't remember seeing it . . .

That makes the second long-standing restaurant to close on that street in the last month or so. Angel's on Clark, just north of Balmoral, has also shuttered their doors this summer. Augie's was just your usual diner food, and Angel's was fairly cheap (not great) Mexican. That gets rid of another cheap option in the neighborhood...

Sharona

It's incredible how much that neighborhood has changed in the 4 years since I moved away. The gentrification of Andersonville was already well underway back then, but there was still a great mix of old-school and new trendy stuff. Every time I go back to visit, there's something new and different -- and more upscale/expensive than whatever it replaced. The mom-and-pop joints are getting chased out and the neighborhood feels less diverse and more economically/aesthetically monolithic with each visit. Some of the new places seem nice, but it's sad to see the old neighborhood dying off one piece at a tme.

It's also interesting to watch the "unofficial" borders of Andersonville expand as the neighborhood gains cachet. I can remember when Andersonville was almost strictly confined to the area between Foster and Bryn Mawr. Now I see the "Andersonville" signs from south of Argyle all the way up to the Clark/Ashland junction.

I agree Drover.

I've lived in the area off and on since 2002 and while some of the changes have been nice ones (Sweet Occasions and Taste of Heaven), I'm bummed that Augie's is closing its doors.

It may have been no frills, but it was a nice place for pancakes and coffee when I felt like it.

Also, my old video store is gone...one of those independent types that had a good foreign selection.

I'm actually pretty sad that Hamburger Mary's took over the coffee shop that was once there. It may have been non-descript, but it was a nice place to hangout versus Starbucks.

Sure, I'm anxious to try Natalina's bakery and Anteprima, but overall I wish some things stayed the same.

Along with the post I had inquiring about the new fast food place on Winona and Broadway, with all of the changes going on on Clark Street, I don't know why some of that business can't spill over to Broadway. Now THERE's an area that could use some sprucing up.

i'm sad Augie's is gone. also that I didn't frequent this site until recently, or I may have known it was going - so I never got to say goodbye Augie's is literally out my back door. so close, such comfort food.

R.I.P. Augies.

briansemerick wrote:i'm sad Augie's is gone. also that I didn't frequent this site until recently, or I may have known it was going - so I never got to say goodbye Augie's is literally out my back door. so close, such comfort food.

R.I.P. Augies.

I second what you said 100 percent! I'm still saddened that I didn't hear about its closure, until like 4-5 days after it had closed for good(that's how long it took for me to finally find out that it had closed).

At least I've heard that the restaurant that's rumored to soon replace Augie's, Big Jones, sounds very interesting, since it seems like from what I've read on another LTH thread, it'll be a southern BBQ place. Last thing Andersonville needs is another foo-foo restaurant(a la Scamburger Mary's).

Augustino Georgopoulos, founder of Andersonville cafe, dies at 86

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/obit ... story.html

Sharona wrote:That makes the second long-standing restaurant to close on that street in the last month or so. Angel's on Clark, just north of Balmoral, has also shuttered their doors this summer. Augie's was just your usual diner food, and Angel's was fairly cheap (not great) Mexican. That gets rid of another cheap option in the neighborhood...

Sharona

I realize this thread is ancient, but it's worth mentioning that Angel's did not close, they relocated to West Town. I don't remember their exact address but they're on Ashland somewhere around Adams or so, about half a block south of the Mexican consulate. To assure any doubters whether it's the same Angel's, they have the neon-blue-outlined angel in their window just as they did at the Andersonville location.