Cemitas Puebla is closing its doors on 1/24/20.

https://www.facebook.com/CemitasPueblaC ... =3&theater

Wow. In retrospect, not shocking (all the other locations closing one by one and the West Loop one usually deserted), but still. Very sad.

cilantro wrote:Wow. In retrospect, not shocking (all the other locations closing one by one and the West Loop one usually deserted), but still. Very sad.

Yeah, looking back you are right. Not surprising, especially considering what rents must be in the west loop. A victim of their own success?

When the location on North Ave. was open it was fantastic. Limited menu, but high quality and attention to detail. Place was a dive, but it didn't matter. When they were forced to close, and moved into the new fancier digs over on Armitage and then also opened the west loop location, it wasn't quite the same, but the Armitage location at least was still pumping out quality product, and West Loop was OK, though maybe a step below. The thing was, neither seemed quite as busy as the original, and the build-outs had to have cost some $'s. Hyde Park opened and closed, followed by Armitage, and it seemed only a matter of time. It's really a shame. Maybe Tony can get back to what he once was somewhere, people on FB are telling him to go to Pilsen, I think he needs to stay away from trying to find a place in another rising-rent district. Set the trend, don't follow it.

Agree with all of this. I also preferred the original, with Tony excitably steering the ship and the insane collage of photos on the wall. More importantly, it was always packed. Plus, I will continue to insist that the rolls were better there, before they started baking their own. Anyway, hope they can regroup.

cilantro wrote:Agree with all of this. I also preferred the original, with Tony excitably steering the ship and the insane collage of photos on the wall. More importantly, it was always packed. Plus, I will continue to insist that the rolls were better there, before they started baking their own. Anyway, hope they can regroup.

I'm right with you.

For those that only knew the more contemporary urban presentation in Hyde Park or Fulton Market and have the craving, I think Gringo & Blondie in Elmwood Park is doing a great job. They are inspired in part by CP, and I'd like to convince them to swap in piloncillo-chipotle jam for the cream and it would be right on.

Cemitas Poblanas in my hometown of Villa Park (Krap Alliv, RIP Ovaltine) is also just dandy, and on that note I should also mention that Montecasino is exceptional out there, cited more than a few times here on LTH by others.

Bummer. Just a huge blow.

=R=

Santander wrote:Cemitas Poblanas in my hometown of Villa Park (Krap Alliv, RIP Ovaltine) is also just dandy, and on that note I should also mention that Montecasino is exceptional out there, cited more than a few times here on LTH by others.

I'd never heard anything about Cemitas Poblanas, but as it's right in my (current) neighborhood, I'll be checking it out post-haste! I've also been to Montecasino, and it is great (BTW, they moved a while back to St Charles Road, maybe a mile south of where they were previously).

Really bummed out to see this news...
Anyone know where to get a decent Cemitas in the North Suburbs?