Bar Louie

A friend has suggested this as a midway meeting point for a quick lunch, but I know the food from other of their outposts, and so unless this location in particular has something unique about it, I'm leaning toward suggesting another spot. Your thoughts? Thanks.

This is all conjecture, but I'm leaning towards nothing special about that Bar Louie.








I've enjoyed the BL steak sandwich in the past and been nonplussed with their "muffaletta."

Seen one, seen 'em all.

As an Oak Parker, I can't tell you disappointing it is to have this generic joint installed on our main street.

If in that area, how about a Goldyburger, potato pancake and a pint, perchance? The Beacon (formerly Sullys) is just around the corner as well.


Goldyburgers
7316 Circle Ave.
Forest Park, IL

Goldys is a great beer and a shot spot, skip the burger and drink your lunch.
You could go to Poor Phills for more of a local vibe and a better beer selection than Bar Louie. I think both spots have just ok food IMHO, but Poor Phil's has a lot more character and much better beers...
www.poorphils.com
I like S3 for casual lunch and simple, fresh food.
www.s3kitchen.com

I was going to recommend Poor Phil's too. Good burgers, more local flavor. Although I think Bar Louie's food is just fine for a chain. If you want something more interesting and are not constrained by having to be near public transportation check out Yum Thai or Gaetano's on Madison Street in Forest Park.

jmc wrote:Goldys is a great beer and a shot spot, skip the burger and drink your lunch.
You could go to Poor Phills for more of a local vibe and a better beer selection than Bar Louie. I think both spots have just ok food IMHO, but Poor Phil's has a lot more character and much better beers...
www.poorphils.com
I like S3 for casual lunch and simple, fresh food.
www.s3kitchen.com

I was driving by S3 the other day and the windows were papered over.

Just tried the phone number and it is disconnected.

that is too bad.
how about the depot?
not too far from the south east border of op!
5840 W Roosevelt Rd
(between 58th Ct & 59th Ave)
Chicago, IL 60644
(773) 261-8422


three words: pot roast sandwich

jmc wrote: skip the burger and drink your lunch. :

Now why didnt I think of that? Or did I? No rest for the wicked.

Should this thread move in THAT direction, how about the Home Run Inn or the Randolph Street Depot! Pioneer Tap, anyone?

RR_Rancher wrote:

jmc wrote: skip the burger and drink your lunch. :

Now why didnt I think of that? Or did I? No rest for the wicked.

Should this thread move in THAT direction, how about the Home Run Inn or the Randolph Street Depot! Pioneer Tap, anyone?

Randolph Street Depot is closed for renovations. I do not know if they will open again under the same name or type of establishment.

The green locomotive/van has been removed.

Sorry to be the bearer of all this bad news.

Friendly Tap on Roosevelt east of Oak Park has been having some pretty good music lately!

Oh! ... and they tore down The Spindle (AKA: car kabob) in Berwyn.

I'm boycotting the Walgreens that they build there.

Booooo.

I don't think there is anything good about any Bar Louie anywhere.I had egg rolls once at the one at Dearborn Station that were still frozen inside and burnt outside. Even just sitting at the bar one Sunday afternoon it took ten minutes for the bartender to even acknowledge us-and we were the only ones there! Never again, no way, no how. Especially with Hackney's right across the street. Speaking of burgers......

I wasn't recommending the Randolph Street Depot, but the Depot American Diner...

Panther in the Den wrote:

RR_Rancher wrote:

jmc wrote: skip the burger and drink your lunch. :

Now why didnt I think of that? Or did I? No rest for the wicked.

Should this thread move in THAT direction, how about the Home Run Inn or the Randolph Street Depot! Pioneer Tap, anyone?

Randolph Street Depot is closed for renovations. I do not know if they will open again under the same name or type of establishment.

The green locomotive/van has been removed.

Sorry to be the bearer of all this bad news.

Friendly Tap on Roosevelt east of Oak Park has been having some pretty good music lately!

Randolph Street was bought by the same guy that did the Playhouse (now Francesca's) and La Piazza in Forest Park. I heard he is turning Randolph Street into an oyster house. I think he's been sidetracked lately though with Gaetano moving out and he is working on putting the place back together for some new tenants in the LaPiazza location.

jmc wrote:I wasn't recommending the Randolph Street Depot, but the Depot American Diner...

Don't think anyone said you were. He was replying to my rec (referencing your rec).

You see, i recommended a joint, you said that place wasn't all that, but was better for getting drunk at (agreed!). So then I ran with that, you see, and threw in some REAL joints for cheap shot and a beer, and well, he replied to me about....%^$$#@((*&^&@

Ok, that's it, I drinking my dinner. Makers Mark, Chekvar, and maybe ONE Carniceria Leon pastor teaser, prepare for my arrival.

oh, yeah. no worries. cheers!

Farewell Spindle.

Whatever happened to that big garbage pile "work of art" that used to be at Harlem-Cermak...you know which one I mean? I used to know but I think I killed those brain cells with too many bloody marys on Sundays.

Bankruptcy filing.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/business ... story.html

The chain has filed for Chapter 11 protection, and while they have closed a third of their locations, the others remain open, at least for now.

I recall them doing this before, maybe 10 years ago or so?

leek wrote:I recall them doing this before, maybe 10 years ago or so?

The Bar Louie chain was purchased by its current owners, Sun Capital Partners Inc., in 2010. Perhaps that's what you're thinking of. (I could not find any evidence of a previous filing for bankruptcy protection.)

In Oak Park when they roll up the sidewalks at 10 pm or earlier during the week. Bar Louie kept open (and served food) until midnight or later.

It was a welcome stop if you wanted a snack and a drink. Lively and comfortable enough atmosphere. Serviceable at best food.

They closed up here a year or two ago without much fanfare.

Panther in the Den wrote:In Oak Park when they roll up the sidewalks at 10 pm or earlier during the week. Bar Louie kept open (and served food) until midnight or later.

It was a welcome stop if you wanted a snack and a drink. Lively and comfortable enough atmosphere. Serviceable at best food.

They closed up here a year or two ago without much fanfare.

They really seemed to go downhill fast in the last year or two. I used to rely on them for a decent burger and beer but it the food became basically inedible.

nsxtasy wrote:

leek wrote:I recall them doing this before, maybe 10 years ago or so?

The Bar Louie chain was purchased by its current owners, Sun Capital Partners Inc., in 2010. Perhaps that's what you're thinking of. (I could not find any evidence of a previous filing for bankruptcy protection.)

Hm. They abruptly closed the Damen avenue one in June 2008, abandoning most items in there, and around that time I recall (but could be wrong) that they did the same to other locations as well.

leek wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:

leek wrote:I recall them doing this before, maybe 10 years ago or so?

The Bar Louie chain was purchased by its current owners, Sun Capital Partners Inc., in 2010. Perhaps that's what you're thinking of. (I could not find any evidence of a previous filing for bankruptcy protection.)

Hm. They abruptly closed the Damen avenue one in June 2008, abandoning most items in there, and around that time I recall (but could be wrong) that they did the same to other locations as well.

When a company is bought out by an equity firm, it usually means they're in some financial distress. So while they didn't go through bankruptcy in 2010, acquisition by an equity firm is almost like a form of private-sector bankruptcy.

Drover wrote:

leek wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:

leek wrote:I recall them doing this before, maybe 10 years ago or so?

The Bar Louie chain was purchased by its current owners, Sun Capital Partners Inc., in 2010. Perhaps that's what you're thinking of. (I could not find any evidence of a previous filing for bankruptcy protection.)

Hm. They abruptly closed the Damen avenue one in June 2008, abandoning most items in there, and around that time I recall (but could be wrong) that they did the same to other locations as well.

When a company is bought out by an equity firm, it usually means they're in some financial distress.

Not necessarily true. It's simply one avenue that might be chosen when selling a business. Different situations create different priorities and approaches.

Drover wrote:So while they didn't go through bankruptcy in 2010, acquisition by an equity firm is almost like a form of private-sector bankruptcy.

More likely, the PE firm drove up debt while creating non-sustainable top-line growth, effectively leveraging the business for as much as they possibly could to inflate the EBITDA, with their goal being a future flip.

Generally speaking, it's way more likely that dubious (accounting and business) practices and other red flags would follow a PE acquisition than precede one. It's also more likely that experience and knowledge in running said business would decrease after a PE acquisition, which would likely make post-acquisition success more difficult.

In this case, with bankruptcy protection now sought, it appears that the most likely goal (of flipping the business, aka pump and dump) was a failure.

=R=