Peppers Sandwich Shop- 211 W Van Buren [New Owner]

I regret to inform the world that Peppers burgers on Van Bueren by the Board of Trade and CBOE is closing tomorrow. Not many people know, I just went down and confirmed it and got my last double cheeseburger.
Cal's is closing too, maybe someone knows the story..?

It's a sad sad day.
GREAT burgers. They have been there for 26 years.
I shed a tear when I was scraping the greasy cheese up with my fry just now.

Peppers Sandwich Shop 211 W Van Buren St

RIP

[edit to reflect new ownership, not closing]

Wow. Sad news indeed. While Peppers has had the look of an abandoned storefront for at least 20 years, it's always done well. Cal's closing is doubly sad. Where will the bike messengers drink? And where will I pick up last-minute package goods in the Loop? A great one-two punch goes down for the count. Places such as Pepper's, Cal's and Harry's (hot dogs), whether you loved them or hated them, are being rubbed out at an alarming rate with the continued development of empty condo high-rises, including especially in the South Loop.

Wait, Cal's is closing?

No confirmation on Cal's, in fact I heard that he is staying open later in the day today.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 25 w/fries on the way.

Lots of fond memories of Peppers being "that place" when you were hung over and needed grease for lunch.

Too bad. I'd probably have heard of Peppers and Cal's - perhaps even become a customer - had some of the many people now lamenting their demise posted about the places. Oh well.

Kennyz wrote:Too bad. I'd probably have heard of Peppers and Cal's - perhaps even become a customer - had some of the many people now lamenting their demise posted about the places. Oh well.

Don't worry, you were not missing too much. Peppers had decent burgers and dogs in a post-apocalyptic setting. Nothing worth going out of the way for unless you were doing an academic study as how not to run a business.

Kennyz, there's a whole lot of history out there, pre-Kennyz. Peppers has been mentioned here off and on, but has been one of those places "neglected" as part of the LTH backdrop, furniture, wallpaper, context, or however else you'd want to describe the baseline collective knowlege that was in place when LTH sprang forth.

Here's something about Peppers from '02.


http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/111906

what? no! Is it closed now today? or one more day?

JeffB wrote:there's a whole lot of history out there, pre-Kennyz.

Then it doesn't count

Thanks for the background.

teatpuller wrote:

Kennyz wrote:Too bad. I'd probably have heard of Peppers and Cal's - perhaps even become a customer - had some of the many people now lamenting their demise posted about the places. Oh well.

Don't worry, you were not missing too much. Peppers had decent burgers and dogs in a post-apocalyptic setting. Nothing worth going out of the way for unless you were doing an academic study as how not to run a business.

Well, different strokes. You recently told us about this place, a short walk from Peppers:

teatpuller wrote:Cupcake Counter just opened. Near southeast corner of Madison and Franklin. They have cupcakes, muffins, cookies, and Intelligentsia coffee..

While I hope the cupcake place is a big success, because I root for family businesses (like Peppers, run by a husband and wife team), I like greasy hamburger places more than the cupcake/froyo concepts du jour, and would like to see Peppers around. Not sure why we can't have both. Peppers did very well, if the volume of business counts, for many years with the traders, city and federal workers nearby. Maybe they are selling the building (which I doubt they own) and cashing out.

yeah they are probably getting bought because of that huge condo building next door.

JeffB wrote:
Well, different strokes. You recently told us about this place, a short walk from Peppers:

teatpuller wrote:Cupcake Counter just opened. Near southeast corner of Madison and Franklin. They have cupcakes, muffins, cookies, and Intelligentsia coffee..

I'd hardly call mentioning that a place opened a ringing endorsement. Were it my druthers I'd prefer Peppers stay there, but it was hardly a "can't miss" place.

so, anyone? is it closed today? or is today the last day?

Chitown B wrote:so, anyone? is it closed today? or is today the last day?

right

Kennyz wrote:Too bad. I'd probably have heard of Peppers and Cal's - perhaps even become a customer - had some of the many people now lamenting their demise posted about the places. Oh well.

damn son, you always got to be such a grump


Never had Pepper's sandwiches. As for Cal's, it's just a little (seriously little, I mean tiny) hole-in-the-wall tavern that looks like it ought to have been condemned years ago, has a small but decent selection of bottled beer, apart from some macros it's mostly Flying Dog labels and a couple of Belgians, is cheap and friendly and just off the Metra for those of us riding the Rock Island line, throws uproarious punk rock shows from time to time (400 square feet of rock goes the tagline), and you can get into some interesting conversations with the city's corps of bicycle messengers. Also it has a package store where you can grab a beer or two for the train ride home. For me, the fact that it's not necessarily LTH material doesn't mean it wouldn't be a shame to see it go, and I'm hoping "unconfirmed" means "total bullshit" in this particular case. Will stop in after work and see what I can see.

JimTheBeerGuy wrote:

Kennyz wrote:Too bad. I'd probably have heard of Peppers and Cal's - perhaps even become a customer - had some of the many people now lamenting their demise posted about the places. Oh well.

damn son, you always got to be such a grump

How come people always call me out for that, but no one compliments me when I make a peace offering, or give a crappy burger a higher-than deserved score? I have a softer side too.

I disagree with you about Cal's. It sounds like exactly the kind of place that warrants LTH posting.

Kennyz wrote:

Chitown B wrote:so, anyone? is it closed today? or is today the last day?

right

that didn't answer. which is it? lol

edit: confirmed closed. They're in there, but the sign on the door says closed.

weird day to close, a Wednesday.

From Grub Street Chicago:
Pepper's Has Served Its Last Double Cheeseburger
Today's the last day of Pepper's on Van Buren, with hardcore fans flocking to the beloved greasehole for one last bite. But don't bother going, unless it's just to pay your respects: a tipster tells us that they just ran out of food. Apparently, lines were 40 deep with people ordering 40 at a time. That's a hell of a way to go out.

Chitown B wrote:

Kennyz wrote:

Chitown B wrote:so, anyone? is it closed today? or is today the last day?

right

that didn't answer. which is it? lol

Oh, sorry. It is.

Bravo Peppers! To document what kind of day it was when those hardy souls stood 40 deep for final burgers, it's dark and raining sideways. (I'm sad I didn't get over there, but glad I read this before standing in the rain.)

teatpuller wrote:

JeffB wrote:
Well, different strokes. You recently told us about this place, a short walk from Peppers:

teatpuller wrote:Cupcake Counter just opened. Near southeast corner of Madison and Franklin. They have cupcakes, muffins, cookies, and Intelligentsia coffee..

I'd hardly call mentioning that a place opened a ringing endorsement. Were it my druthers I'd prefer Peppers stay there, but it was hardly a "can't miss" place.

That was partly my point. If you have a ringing endorsement in the area, I'd love to hear it. Sometimes, LTH love is relative. For a piss-poor area for food (the Loop), Peppers was good. I don't need a "can't miss place" all the time.

JeffB wrote:Bravo Peppers! To document what kind of day it was when those hardy souls stood 40 deep for final burgers, it's dark and raining sideways. (I'm sad I didn't get over there, but glad I read this before standing in the rain.)

yeah that walk sucked. I'm drenched, mostly my legs. I went to Billy Goat instead.

JeffB wrote:That was partly my point. If you have a ringing endorsement in the area, I'd love to hear it. Sometimes, LTH love is relative. For a piss-poor area for food (the Loop), Peppers was good. I don't need a "can't miss place" all the time.

I assume you've been to Halsted St. Deli in the CBOE building? The Korean place next to Billy Goat? Fontano's on Jackson? Steak and eggs breakfast at Billy Goat is one of life's little indulgences. There's a Mexican place on Clark south of Van Buren that's OK. Super cheap pizza at that little place in back of Adcock's bar.

You got any ideas?

JimTheBeerGuy wrote:As for Cal's, it's just a little (seriously little, I mean tiny) hole-in-the-wall tavern that looks like it ought to have been condemned years ago, has a small but decent selection of bottled beer, apart from some macros it's mostly Flying Dog labels and a couple of Belgians,

When did Cal's get all fancy and start serving a decent selection of bottled beer? The Cal's I remember was PBR all the way.

Oh don't get me wrong, you're drinking it out of the bottle, but there are decent beers to be had there, at least for the last couple of years that I've been going there (irregularly)

Chitown B wrote:
that didn't answer. which is it? lol

edit: confirmed closed. They're in there, but the sign on the door says closed.

weird day to close, a Wednesday.

Wednesday would be a weird day to close. Luckily today is Friday.

teatpuller wrote:

JeffB wrote:That was partly my point. If you have a ringing endorsement in the area, I'd love to hear it. Sometimes, LTH love is relative. For a piss-poor area for food (the Loop), Peppers was good. I don't need a "can't miss place" all the time.

I assume you've been to Halsted St. Deli in the CBOE building? The Korean place next to Billy Goat? Fontano's on Jackson? Steak and eggs breakfast at Billy Goat is one of life's little indulgences. There's a Mexican place on Clark south of Van Buren that's OK. Super cheap pizza at that little place in back of Adcock's bar.

You got any ideas?

What's the Korean place next to the Billy Goat?

Habibi wrote:
What's the Korean place next to the Billy Goat?

Assuming it's still there, there is a Chinese/Korean fast food place immediately to the West of Billy Goat. The Chinese is typical "food court" stuff, but you can order ok Korean things.