DMK Burger Bar (the venture from Michael Kornick and David Morton at Sheffield and Wellington) now has a giant "DMK" in red neon and a sidewalk-to-roof vertical sign saying "Burger Bar" in a scripty font turned on its side. It's actually all quite attractive in its confident assertiveness and makes me look forward to the opening of the place even more.

Panther in the Den wrote:

dddane wrote:

Marshall K wrote:They closed the restaurant portion which bordered on both Marion and Chicago. The entrance to the Ice Cream shop is on Chicago Ave a little west of the big Peterson's sign. If you blink you will miss it and assume the whole place is shuttered.

well count me as one who blinked and missed it Monday when i went by saying "oh, that's where we were gonna go" (after FLW tour)... there are big "for sale" (or "for lease") signs papering the windows...

good the ice cream parlor is still there, i guess.. but they had really good soup at the restaurant. boo.

Some kind of construction (at least gutting) going on in the restaurant half. The tables and chairs have been removed from the single storefront ice cream shop and the family visiting this afternoon had to sit on the window ledge.

They are not trying hard to compete with all of the other offerings in the area.

There has been some major renovations going on in the restaurant part the last few weeks and recently they have removed the windows in the ice cream shop and put up plywood. Not sure if the ice cream shop is still open (or will reopen).

Will keep an eye on it.

Stuff around Woodfield Mall
Wildberrry cafe and Westwood Tavern are both open (allegedly for Wildberry) in the old Pete Miller/Davis St Fishmarket (previously Prairierock Brewery) space out in front of the Costco on Meacham. I suppose "nascent chains R Us" is the theme for the location.
The Bennigans behind the Streets of Woodfield has been demolished for a Seasons 52. Also on Martingale it looks like they might have the Whole Foods open before the end of the year.

There's a new location of Chill Bubble Tea open in the Village Crossing Mall on Carpenter Rd., just south of Touhy, next door to the newly opened Makisu Sushi.

Chill: 7154 Carpenter
Makisu: 7150 Carpenter

And Renga Tei is still closed.

Closed for a while now...

The Great American Bagel
6641 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn
(708) 484-6600

I did enjoy their juicy tomato based bagels from time to time.

Big Star opens on 11/9

For those have not been keeping up, this is:

Paul Kahan taco joint in the old Pontiac Café space

SSDD

bisque wrote:I am not sure about this but I heard Brass Restaurant in South Barrington closed.

It's true. I can't remember the name of the new place (I think it starts with an L) and it's "pizza, burgers, and beer." The place is totally gutted. Sad, I kinda liked Brass.

Lincoln Square deli to reopen with rooftop deck
By: Alby Gallun Oct. 26, 2009
(Crain’s) — Delicatessen Meyer, a longtime Lincoln Square favorite, is expected to reopen next week with a new owner and a rooftop deck that will serve food and alcohol.

Northwest Side-based Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen Inc., which acquired the shuttered German deli at 4750 N. Lincoln Ave. in 2007, is planning to reopen it Nov. 7.

Renamed Gene’s Sausage Shop at Delicatessen Meyer, the 7,000-square-foot location will feature 40 varieties of smoked ham, sausage and other deli meats, as well as Old World prepared foods such as cabbage rolls, crepes and pierogis.

But in a New World twist, the two-story structure will feature a rooftop deck overlooking the square and its trademark fountain. The deck is to open in spring 2010 and serve imported brands of beer, wine and hard liquor, as well as small plates of cheese, sausage and other foods, says Yolanda Luszcz, whose family owns Gene’s.

“Outdoor eating is a big part of European culture,” she says. “So having a rooftop deck seemed like a natural thing.”
The deli joins other European-inspired restaurants in the heart of the square, such as Chicago Brauhaus Inc. and Café Selmarie.

Gene’s, at 5330 W. Belmont Ave. in the Belmont-Cragin neighborhood, acquired the building in May 2007 from the U.S. Small Business Administration, according to property records. The government agency filed a foreclosure lawsuit in 2006 against a venture led by Hans Liebl, which acquired the property in 2004.

The Luszcz family paid $940,000 for the building, financing the acquisition with a $752,000 mortgage from Lakeside Bank, according to property records.

In addition to meat, Gene’s Lincoln Square location will also sell European brands of mustard, jelly, tea, chocolate and other foodstuffs, although the store’s telephone number — (773) SAUSAGE — is a nod to the shop’s specialty.

Delicatessen Meyer was opened by the Koetke family in 1954 in what was once a predominately German enclave. The shop attracted customers from all over Chicago with its authentic German meat and items like bratwurst and leberkase, which resembles a meatloaf. Mr. Liebl bought the deli from the Koetkes in 2004. He could not be reached.

Shasson wrote:But in a New World twist, the two-story structure will feature a rooftop deck overlooking the square and its trademark fountain. The deck is to open in spring 2010 and serve imported brands of beer, wine and hard liquor, as well as small plates of cheese, sausage and other foods, says Yolanda Luszcz, whose family owns Gene’s.
In addition to meat, Gene’s Lincoln Square location will also sell European brands of mustard, jelly, tea, chocolate and other foodstuffs, although the store’s telephone number — (773) SAUSAGE — is a nod to the shop’s specialty.

Can't wait for this to reopen!

Shasson -- Thanks for the update.

I was a regular customer at Meyer's for many, many years and was appalled to see how Clever Hans ran the place into the ground in such a short span of time. It is certainly great news that something will finally be opening in the spot and I look forward to checking the new place out, especially since it will be operated by a family that has established shops with a good reputation elsewhere in the area. Unfortunate to me, at least, is that it seems a certainty that the new place will be in essence a Polish establishment with just some German trappings added on the surface. Of course, fine Polish products are wonderful in their own right but there is no dearth of Polish sausage shops and groceries in Chicago. On the other hand, Meyer's was the last of the German delis in the city and a worthy replacement seems unlikely to be on its way.

Antonius

Sweet Station
@ 2101 S. China Place
had their official opening yesterday- dozens of plants (a sign of Good Fortune?) were stacked in front of the door around noon time Monday,
and it seemed about half full with mostly Asian clientele (to me- a great indicator of any ethnic restaurant).
When we enquired to see a menu- we were handed a folded paper menu- quite extensive- and were told it's feature (other that flat screen TV's in each booth, and really "designed" interiors) was "Hong Kong" style Chines cuisine...

Open Everyday 6am til 2am
2101 S. China Place
Chicago,Il.60616

312.842.2228

(2 doors east of Spring World)
www.MySweetStation.com

Dave148 wrote:Sandwich Works...Windows are papered over and there's a big padlock on the front door. Closed I presume.

The deli paper over the door has the scrawled message:
CLOSED DUE TO BUS OUT
whatever that means.

Kitakata in Arlington Heights is closing -- Saturday, Oct 31 is their last day open*, according to the website. I have no idea why -- we were there a couple weeks ago and they were doing lots of business. I'm very sad...

* Actually, it says "We will close our business as of Saturday, October 31st." Does that mean they are open on Saturday, or is Friday the last day?

Amata wrote:Kitakata in Arlington Heights is closing -- Saturday, Oct 31 is their last day open*, according to the website. I have no idea why...

I'd guess it has to do with redevelopment of that corner, which is a TIF district.

eli wrote:I walked by the former Aigre Doux space today and caught a glimpse in the door as someone was coming out. The interior was stripped down to bare floor and bare walls and I saw some lumber leaning up against one wall. Plus the person walking out had a tool box and a carpenter's level. Seems likely someone's building out the space for something new. Anyone heard about plans for this space?

Survey says: Guild.

New sandwich place on 75st in Naperville called Whichwich Superior Sandwiches. www.whichwich.com
2728 W 75 St. Suite 120
Naperville, Il 60564
630-961-2000

Has anyone been to anyone of these locations anywhere else?

Anybody know whether Garcia's in Lincoln Square has reopened from their renovation? I thought it was supposed to be done last month, although God knows what issues they may have run into. Last time I was by (mid-October) still closed.

As of today, still not open.

It does have a very handsome new stone exterior (and from a peek in the windows, a reconfigured and more spacious interior). Seems very close to re-opening (some people seemed to be working on the bar area still).

Spekaing of handsome stone exteriors, the Gene's Sausage just up the square is huge--and has a nice big plastic cow statue thing hanging over it's doors. The windows are all papered over, so can't tell how close they are--but, again, it is real, real big. I sure hope they honor the German heritage of the neighborhood, and of Meyer, with an expansive selection of German items.

Fox & Obel's Atrium & Wine Bar is now open.

Rossini's in Niles has closed.

Vinny wrote:Anybody know whether Garcia's in Lincoln Square has reopened from their renovation? I thought it was supposed to be done last month, although God knows what issues they may have run into. Last time I was by (mid-October) still closed.

I walked in front of Garcia's tonight along my route home from work and as I was peeking in the window of the kitchen's exterior door a man came up behind me and said, "Excuse me," and seeing he had keys in his hand and looked to want to enter the restaurant through the door I asked him if he worked there, to which he said "Yes," and when I asked him when the restaurant would reopen he replied, "Maybe next week." I walked further along the sidewalk and peered through other windows and saw that some painting had been underway and clean-up of the cooking and prep areas had been undertaken. So, though the restaurant might not open exactly next week the re-inaugeration will probably take place soon. I previously only ordered tacos to go from Garcia's and didn't think they were very good, so I stopped visiting the place. Maybe, from my perspective, things will improve when it reopens and I'll give it a try again. Whomever did the new brick facade work seems to have done excellent job - it looks great and it's a vast improvement to the look of that stretch of Western Ave.

I drove past the Five Guys in Mount Prospect today and it looked open. When I got home, I called to find out how late they were open and was informed they don't open until November 9th.

Also, the rumor that the Superdawg in Wheeling will be open on Sunday....I drove by there tonight to see the progress. Unless they get all the windows put in and all the menu boards in the drive-in stalls installed tomorrow, I don't think it's going to happen.

Pie Lady wrote:Fox & Obel's Atrium & Wine Bar is now open.

I popped my head in here yesterday, very warm and cozy with a view of the river. Smallish menu of apps, entrees, cheeses, etc and wine list is VERY affordable with a great selection of wines by the glass, flights, and even some dessert wines.

Pie Lady wrote:
The deli paper over the door has the scrawled message:
CLOSED DUE TO BUS OUT
whatever that means.

Maybe they mean CLOSED DUE TO BUST OUT

I think "bus" means the connection that supplies electrical power to the deli, i.e., the power's out. Probably not a biggie if they're telling the truth.

MykS wrote:I think "bus" means the connection that supplies electrical power to the deli, i.e., the power's out. Probably not a biggie if they're telling the truth.

I dunno, they've been closed for a couple of weeks now.

Pie Lady wrote:

MykS wrote:I think "bus" means the connection that supplies electrical power to the deli, i.e., the power's out. Probably not a biggie if they're telling the truth.

I dunno, they've been closed for a couple of weeks now.

In addition, there's a big padlock on the front door. Not a good sign.

From recent observations, it looks like the on-again/off-again upscale grocery store project intended for the long/vacant Osco/CVS property on Asbury & Oakton in Evanston is off again. All signage, including the most recent batch posted in the spring, have been stripped, and there are no signs of life in the buildinq. I think this makes year 4 for this building being vacant.

If anyone in the West Rogers Park/SW Evanston area has any news, I'd love to hear it, especially if it's good.

chezbrad wrote:

eli wrote:I walked by the former Aigre Doux space today and caught a glimpse in the door as someone was coming out. The interior was stripped down to bare floor and bare walls and I saw some lumber leaning up against one wall. Plus the person walking out had a tool box and a carpenter's level. Seems likely someone's building out the space for something new. Anyone heard about plans for this space?

Survey says: Guild.

I think the space is cursed. I'm thinking the classic Seinfeld Episode. In less than 5 years it has already been 2 restaurants.

News on the Randhurst Village outlot front:
Chipotle is open (woo. hoo.), and has been for a week or so.
Five Guys looked open this morning, but has a sign saying they're doing employee training, and the real opening date is November 9. I can hold out another week.