Andersonville - Urban Epicure Closed

After a two year stint on the block of Berwyn between Clark and Ashland, Urban Epicure appears to have closed up shop. This was a small gourmet grocery store/deli that never quite found its niche. Maybe because it was around the corner from Clark Street, so it missed out on the lion's share of the foot traffic. Maybe because it's food stuffs were priced a bit on the high side. Or maybe because the owners got a better offer to do something else. But whatever the reason, it will be missed.

I now have to make a more deliberate plan to get fine cheeses.

Thanks for the cheese and sandwiches, Urban Epicure.

Keep eating,
J. Ro

I feel a little sad that this place has closed. I loved the idea of having a place like UE in the neighborhood. Though, I did think the prices were high for the prepared foods.

Recently it looked like they put in more tables and removed some shelves of foodstuffs. I agree that UE had a hard time finding its niche. With all the restaurants in the neighborhood, it was going to be difficult to sustain itself as a destination dining place.

I liked the idea of Urban Epicure a lot, too, but they just didn't quite fire on all cylinders. Instead of trying to be a prepared food deli and a high-end variety grocery store and a broker of fine world cheeses, they would have been better served to choose among those missions.

I think that a good neighborhood cheese shop, for example, could give The Cheese Stands Alone (a great store) a run for its money.

Alas, to Western we must away.

Keep eating,
J. Ro

It was convenient to be able to pick up a Red Hen baguette from there on the way home.

I'm not at liberty to say quite yet, but stay tuned...you just may get your wish for a replacement.

Actually, with the exception of being able to pick up a good loaf of bread, as just noted, we were seriously disappointed. We found their offerings fairly slim and their prices distinctly high. While we're sorry to see any business fail (a presumption on our part, given the lack of information), we're not sorry to see UE leave and look forward to a great replacement.

In this connection I find it interesting to recall a conversation with one of the owners at Pastoral in the 2900 block of North Broadway. With its small but superb selection of wine and cheeses (and a few other delicacies), I tried to convince them to move to Andersonville. His comment was twofold: they didn't have enough time/experience/money to open a second location yet (this was, perhaps, a year ago) and second, he found it fascinating that the vast majority of all the people trying to convince him to open another store were from...Andersonville!

Here's hopin'!

I also found it pleasant but overpriced. Also, I'm not really a customer for MREs (I keep a few from the Paulina Market in the freezer, and if I run out of them, I'm fine eating out). I liked the place but wasn't its audience; if there's a possibility that something may come along that I'll patronize more, I'll look forward to it.

I was excited about the place when it opened, but never again since then. The deli prices were higher than what you would pay in a Restaurant with table service, etc.

When they first opened they had a carmelized onion dip for chips that was quite good, but they discontinued that after a while.

pd

johnny wrote:I'm not at liberty to say quite yet, but stay tuned...you just may get your wish for a replacement.

Just for that, I'm going to keep stalking the space to see what appears next.

I tried to like UE, but it just was never my store. I remember being horrified by what they were charging for roasted brussels sprouts. Maybe it just wasn't the location for it.

dayzella wrote:

johnny wrote:I'm not at liberty to say quite yet, but stay tuned...you just may get your wish for a replacement.

Just for that, I'm going to keep stalking the space to see what appears next.

Sorry if I misled you - I din't mean to imply something similar may be opening in the EXACT same space - just within the area.
I'll keep you posted.

So I'm wondering, johnny, if you were referring to the new M. Henry storefront? I stopped by there on Saturday afternoon; many of the breads were already sold out, but I did pick up the sourdough boule and an assortment of very good cupcakes. I understand from Dish that very few of their baked goods are made on the premises, but they are selling good stuff, and it's nice to have a source for good bread in the neighborhood. I didn't see the blackboard with the MREs until I was leaving, so I didn't explore them.

Oh, Andersonville...

While sipping my coffee this beautiful morning outside Starbucks I noticed that a man opened the space at UE and brought out a chalkboard that stated "Coming Soon - Ranalli's of Lincoln Park!"

danak wrote:Oh, Andersonville...

While sipping my coffee this beautiful morning outside Starbucks I noticed that a man opened the space at UE and brought out a chalkboard that stated "Coming Soon - Ranalli's of Lincoln Park!"

If that is true, that's too bad. For all of UE's faults, it was a better addition to the neighborhood than a Renalli's will be.

Well that's the biggest waste of decent storefront square footage I've heard of in awhile.

Why must people persist in promoting ersatz and lackluster italian food? What is the point? Why on earth must there be ANOTHER dang Ranalli's when we could have something unique and different or at least DECENT in the hood?

This is a bit off-topic but on the subject of Andersonville -- has anyone been into the latest "home furnishings" store that used to be the Brown Elephant? That's another complete waste of space.

Oh Andersonville is right.

s