Closed, see info in Openings, Closings thread.

Or the Crain's article:
http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=36008

Can't say that's terribly surprising. I can't remember the last time I've heard anything good about Nick's.

The being said, the actual Nick ran a fantastic restaurant at the Boca Raton Resort until a couple of years ago.

Sad. Just like the closing of Peppers. While Peppers was a cheap hole in the wall and Nick's was a very expensive, perhaps overpriced expense-account place, both had their place and were a part of the Loop landscape. And Nick's employed a lot of good people for a very long time. I personally never understood the arithmetic that supported lunch at Nick's, and it became harder to figure out how Nick's made sense once Melman, Rosebud, Morton's etc. moved into the Loop to compete for that money.

In addition to the Boca Nick's, there's one in Honolulu (or was). I always wondered if Nick's opened those outposts in spots where the owners travelled to broker relationships with fishermen. Probably not, but Nick's, like Bob Chinn's, were bringing in really good and unusual fish from afar long before it was commonplace.

JeffB wrote:In addition to the Boca Nick's, there's one in Honolulu (or was). I always wondered if Nick's opened those outposts in spots where the owners travelled to broker relationships with fishermen. Probably not, but Nick's, like Bob Chinn's, were bringing in really good and unusual fish from afar long before it was commonplace.

I was always under the impression that the Honolulu Nick's was the original and Chicago was a branch(s).

Nick's had (still has I believe) a place in Maui at the Fairmont Kea Lani. I believe it is under different ownership though.

Steve,

Right you are! Looks like the original 1968 Nick's in Honolulu closed earlier this year. I guess Nick's was one of those places (like Trader Vic's and Lawry's) that was so damn old and old-fashioned that one could reasonably assume it was a Chicago original, when it was not.

http://www.starbulletin.com/business/20 ... loses.html

The Nick's location in Deerfield has also been closed for quite a while. It was tucked away in a corner of non-descript shopping mall by the edge of the Tri-Sate Tollway spur, an awful location. If you didn't already know where it was, you'd have a hard time finding it (around the corner from Tasty Thai, btw).

I suspect that was only a partial reason for it's failure, though- the whole Nick's dining concept seems to be very outdated now, and one whose time has truly passed.

sandman wrote:I suspect that was only a partial reason for it's failure, though- the whole Nick's dining concept seems to be very outdated now, and one whose time has truly passed.

That certainly seems true. Count me in the camp (of which I may be the sole member) that's sad to see Nick's go. To me, Nick's is one of those quintessential Bret Easton Ellis, '80's style financial district restaurants (with bar scene to match) that people who visit the City from the country want to see to confirm their Hollywoodified view of how city slickers live. I haven't been there in years (and that probably says everything), in fact, I don't even remember eating there, but its post-work, urban, yuppie cocktail scene and expense account dining is a dying breed, especially in these lean times.

It will be interesting if and when Chase gets a new tennant. With MCDonalds in one half of the space there maybe a noncompete clause in the lease so it can't rent out to another fastfood chain or for that matter another restaurant. Nick's was there first. I'll miss the free cheezy poofs served upstairs at cocktail hour.

aschie30 wrote:Count me in the camp (of which I may be the sole member) that's sad to see Nick's go.

Is that a pun?

riddlemay wrote:

aschie30 wrote:Count me in the camp (of which I may be the sole member) that's sad to see Nick's go.

Is that a pun?

I've haddock about enough of this before it even gets started.

Santander wrote:I've haddock about enough of this before it even gets started.

I used to respect you.

Santander wrote:

riddlemay wrote:

aschie30 wrote:Count me in the camp (of which I may be the sole member) that's sad to see Nick's go.

Is that a pun?

I've haddock about enough of this before it even gets started.

aschie30 didn't start this. Don't grouper in with riddlemay.

nr706 wrote:I used to respect you.

Look at you staring out from your perch acting all high and mighty. Walleye for one still have plenty fo respect for Matt, and I'm seeing your sense of humor begin to seriously flounder.

Oy gefilte!

Nick's Fishmarket in Rosemont is closing at month's end. From their Facebook page: "Nick's Fishmarket in Rosemont, a fixture on the fine dining scene in Chicagoland for 28 years, will be closing its doors on Saturday, June 25th. As the building seeks out a more lunch-targeted restaurant with a lower price point, we'd like to thank you for your years of loyal patronage."

Mrs Willie & I have really enjoyed their lobster/shrimp risotto. Entire wine list was 50% off on Saturdays, some very nice values.