stevez wrote:

JoelF wrote:I wonder if the Houlihans will just take over the space that Bennigans was in on the south side of Willow, a few blocks west of Waukegan?

If so, I wonder if anyone will notice any difference.

Not me.

tem wrote:

forzagto wrote:I noticed an awning on Elston just north of Webster for Goddess and The Grocer. Is this a new location or are they moving from the Damen or Gold Coast location?

I can't imagine it'd be anything but a catering kitchen in that location. There's no foot traffic there to support a retail store.

when you responded that it must be a catering kitchen I thought that must be the case since as you said it is sort of a random location with no foot traffic. However I went by again today and they are installing food display cases so I think it will be a new G&G location!

Manginos's sub shop on Wacker Drive (across from Lyric Opera House) closed. Really nice subs and totally friendly folks. Damn, an independent sub shop down while Subway thrives. OOps-just read the posts above-my bad- but still feel the pain.

You're never going to believe this, but it looks like iCream closed. The interior is being gutted.

Actually I don't know if it can be called closed if it never really opened to begin with....

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:You're never going to believe this, but it looks like iCream closed. The interior is being gutted.

Actually I don't know if it can be called closed if it never really opened to begin with....

that has to be *the* shortest restaurant/food stand run ever: 1 day. It had its 'grand opening' and then was closed the next day because the hydrogen whatchamacallits were busted.

tem wrote:that has to be *the* shortest restaurant/food stand run ever: 1 day. It had its 'grand opening' and then was closed the next day because the hydrogen whatchamacallits were busted.

The whole thing did seem rather ill-conceived.

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:

tem wrote:that has to be *the* shortest restaurant/food stand run ever: 1 day. It had its 'grand opening' and then was closed the next day because the hydrogen whatchamacallits were busted.

The whole thing did seem rather ill-conceived.

Seems like an idea concocted as a business school project.

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:You're never going to believe this, but it looks like iCream closed. The interior is being gutted.

Actually I don't know if it can be called closed if it never really opened to begin with....

This link with an update written yesterday claims a mid-February re-opening for iCream.

ucjames wrote:

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:You're never going to believe this, but it looks like iCream closed. The interior is being gutted.

Actually I don't know if it can be called closed if it never really opened to begin with....

This link with an update written yesterday claims a mid-February re-opening for iCream.

LMAO! What a perfect time for an ice cream store opening in Chicago!

=R=

forzagto wrote:

tem wrote:

forzagto wrote:I noticed an awning on Elston just north of Webster for Goddess and The Grocer. Is this a new location or are they moving from the Damen or Gold Coast location?

I can't imagine it'd be anything but a catering kitchen in that location. There's no foot traffic there to support a retail store.

when you responded that it must be a catering kitchen I thought that must be the case since as you said it is sort of a random location with no foot traffic. However I went by again today and they are installing food display cases so I think it will be a new G&G location!

I spoke last week with a manager of now-defunctish Cru in the Gold Coast; she did not mention the G&G on Elston, but did tell me that both a Goddess & Grocer and a Feast restaurant will be opening in Lincoln Square (as in the Square proper, in the new green condominium buildings) sometime this spring.

The Houlihans and the Zapata's Restaurant will be in the Willowfest Shopping Center, Northbrook.

The other shopping center where Bennigans was is Glenview.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

ucjames wrote:

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:You're never going to believe this, but it looks like iCream closed. The interior is being gutted.

Actually I don't know if it can be called closed if it never really opened to begin with....

This link with an update written yesterday claims a mid-February re-opening for iCream.

LMAO! What a perfect time for an ice cream store opening in Chicago!

=R=

Based on their track record with opening on time, I imagine they will actually be ready for business sometime in late August. Perfect!

but did tell me that both a Goddess & Grocer and a Feast restaurant will be opening in Lincoln Square (as in the Square proper, in the new green condominium buildings) sometime this spring.

Interesting. After checking both of their websites, the G&G doesn't excite me in the slightest, but at least Feast looks like it might have some potential - or it may blend in with all the other "slightly above standard bar food" places that run up and down Lincoln from Montrose to Lawrence.

Matt wrote:

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:

tem wrote:that has to be *the* shortest restaurant/food stand run ever: 1 day. It had its 'grand opening' and then was closed the next day because the hydrogen whatchamacallits were busted.

The whole thing did seem rather ill-conceived.

Seems like an idea concocted as a business school project.

Kind of like Federal Express

I want one of those liquid nitrogen attachments for my Kitchen-Aid.
http://www.icreamcafe.com/
(click on "factory" to see)
I really hate flash sites

Marshall K wrote:

Matt wrote:Seems like an idea concocted as a business school project.

Kind of like Federal Express

Touché. It's my law school v. B-school bias coming out. Just comes down to the fact that those bastards across the river had much, much nicer facilities.

Just noticed a sign in the windows announcing the opening for Chicago's Home of Chicken & Waffles‎ on Madison just east of East Ave.

Sign said Fall 2009. Why so long? Peeked inside and there is nothing going on other than the signs.

There is another location at 3947 S Dr Martin L King Jr Dr. that used to be infamously named Rosscoe's Chicken and Waffle's.

Panther in the Den wrote:Just noticed a sign in the windows announcing the opening for Chicago's Home of Chicken & Waffles‎ on Madison just east of East Ave.

Sign said Fall 2009. Why so long? Peeked inside and there is nothing going on other than the signs.

Madison just east of East Ave... North side or south side of the street?

South side has that insurance sales place right at the corner, an adjacent somewhat empty lot, the 543 Madison property that is just warehouse space, and then the rest of that side of the block is a large single building with no windows or any sort of entrance that would work for an eatery.

North side you've got the laundromat and the body shop... Wow, I can't imagine any storefront on that block being good for food service of any kind. Whichever one it is will take a lot of work. A lot a lot. Super mega really a lot.

ucjames wrote:

Panther in the Den wrote:Just noticed a sign in the windows announcing the opening for Chicago's Home of Chicken & Waffles‎ on Madison just east of East Ave.

Sign said Fall 2009. Why so long? Peeked inside and there is nothing going on other than the signs.

Madison just east of East Ave... North side or south side of the street?

South side has that insurance sales place right at the corner, an adjacent somewhat empty lot, the 543 Madison property that is just warehouse space, and then the rest of that side of the block is a large single building with no windows or any sort of entrance that would work for an eatery.

North side you've got the laundromat and the body shop... Wow, I can't imagine any storefront on that block being good for food service of any kind. Whichever one it is will take a lot of work. A lot a lot. Super mega really a lot.

South Side. On the corner there is the insurance company then a parking lot and then another storefront. That is where it is going in.

Panther in the Den wrote:

ucjames wrote:

Panther in the Den wrote:Just noticed a sign in the windows announcing the opening for Chicago's Home of Chicken & Waffles‎ on Madison just east of East Ave.

Sign said Fall 2009. Why so long? Peeked inside and there is nothing going on other than the signs.

Madison just east of East Ave... North side or south side of the street?

South side has that insurance sales place right at the corner, an adjacent somewhat empty lot, the 543 Madison property that is just warehouse space, and then the rest of that side of the block is a large single building with no windows or any sort of entrance that would work for an eatery.

North side you've got the laundromat and the body shop... Wow, I can't imagine any storefront on that block being good for food service of any kind. Whichever one it is will take a lot of work. A lot a lot. Super mega really a lot.

South Side. On the corner there is the insurance company then a parking lot and then another storefront. That is where it is going in.

Eep. That's 543 Madison. My parents rented that warehouse space back when they ran their own business, call it roughly 1983-1997. I spent many after-school hours there since both parents worked there. Barring massive overhauls since then, there is one small, single-toilet bathroom at the very back of the property. One additional sink about 2 feet away. Other than that, the majority of that property was pure warehouse space with 2 loft areas. The front area served as desk/work space, separated by some drywall iirc.

Even if they started work today, I can understand why they're looking at fall '09 for their opening. That space is going to need a total overhaul.

just noticed two new places announcing openings in the same strip mall that the new Meatheat's has opened on 75th in Naperville.

One says Jersey Mikes Subs. Sign out side says opening soon. Looks like standard subs and then cheese steaks according to the website
www.jerseymikes.com

The other place is called Pizza Fusion. According to their website, organic, fresh, pestacide free, etc.
www.pizzafusion.com

that will be 4 or 5 food places just in that little strip mall alone!

ucjames wrote:

Panther in the Den wrote:Just noticed a sign in the windows announcing the opening for Chicago's Home of Chicken & Waffles‎ on Madison just east of East Ave.

Sign said Fall 2009. Why so long? Peeked inside and there is nothing going on other than the signs.

Eep. That's 543 Madison. My parents rented that warehouse space back when they ran their own business, call it roughly 1983-1997. I spent many after-school hours there since both parents worked there. Barring massive overhauls since then, there is one small, single-toilet bathroom at the very back of the property. One additional sink about 2 feet away. Other than that, the majority of that property was pure warehouse space with 2 loft areas. The front area served as desk/work space, separated by some drywall iirc.

Even if they started work today, I can understand why they're looking at fall '09 for their opening. That space is going to need a total overhaul.

543 W Madison was right on. That is the place.



Just waiting on the remodel. Should be better than the Popeye's not fat away (although I love their gravy).

Panther in the Den wrote:Not a total loss as I saw this on the way home.



Mmmm... Coon! (I wonder if Cathy2 knows? )

Cathy has been there (but she didn’t buy a raccoon). Please see Raccoon Shopping in Chicago: Scottie’s Fish Market.

The owners of the popular Gage restaurant across from Millennium Park’s Crown Fountain are planning to open a small upscale restaurant next door.
The husband-wife owners of the Gage, Billy Lawless and Catherine Gilmore-Lawless, have agreed to buy space in the adjoining building just to the north at 18 S. Michigan Ave., and are shooting to open by the end of the year.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/ ... 3e28434e04

Panther in the Den wrote:Taste of Brazil
906 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park


I had talked to the owner and soon means a week or two if all goes well.

Pictures on the walls, chairs upended on the tables...

On Roosevelt in Berwyn

Perhaps a relocation of...


... further west?

Also...



Nicky's on Roosevelt is gone for good. Bank moving in.

Eastgate Cafe
102 Harrison St, Oak Park
(708) 660-9091




Giving the stalwart Buzz Cafe some competition?

Not exactly brand new but not checked out on the forums as of yet. I have some friends that meet with a local ukulele group here. There is a guy making ukuleles to the west a block or so before Ridgeland.

Zia, the New Mexican restaurant at 340 W. Armitage (next to Geja's Cafe) is gone. It seems that Terragusto has taken over the space and opened up a second location here. I'm rather looking forward to having good, handmade pasta available 30 seconds from my doorstep.

Peetie's Gourmet (nee Sweeties Gourmet, nee a couple of other things over the last ten years) at Wolf and Kensington in Mt Prospect, is gone.
It's a tough corner, with Photo's, Salerno's, and Breezes, plus Subway.

Photo's and Subway are the only (dining) constants in that center: Salerno's spot has been Chinese twice, Thai (two names and owners in succession), Italian and Philipino. Peetie's has been at least three sandwich/pasta/pizza shops, which never could seem hold up to Photo's or Salerno's in quality or variety. Breezes has had at least three previous names and owners in the last 15 years. Plus, there was a Pizza Hut carry out for a few years (which Photo's expanded into).

Peetie's is a large spot -- I'd like to see a table-service place open there, provide something a little nicer in the neighborhood.

Lots and lots of places can be closed by the health dept - Latest?
an Einstein Bagels -
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009 ... ctors.html