d4v3 wrote: I will have to check out Shop & Save, I always forget about that place. I know Niles has many other ethnic options, but SunView and Farmer's Best were two of the largest, and they had products from many different cultures, as well as good cheap produce and really decent meat. Most of the other stores (like Greenwood) specialize in a single ethnicity and don't carry American staples, so they are more "special stops" than places to do daily shopping.

Do check out Shop & Save. The Niles store (there are also larger locations in Des Plaines and Schaumburg) is basically a regular American supermarket up front and then in back there are a bunch of different ethnic aisles. It's a lot like Farmer's Best, but I always liked Shop & Save better.

waiks wrote:saw a big red awning touting "smokey bear's barbeque house"
3314 W. Foster
Chicago

Smokey Bears is now open. Double storefront, lots of seating, looks good so far. They didn't have their to go menus but Anthony who works there took a photo of their huge menu board for me and I put it up on my server. Find the menu here:

kenji wrote:

waiks wrote:saw a big red awning touting "smokey bear's barbeque house"
3314 W. Foster
Chicago

Smokey Bears is now open. Double storefront, lots of seating, looks good so far. They didn't have their to go menus but Anthony who works there took a photo of their huge menu board for me and I put it up on my server. Find the menu here:

Wow, looks almost exactly like Smoque's.

It looks like Thai Lotus in Aurora (on Rt. 59 just north of 75th street) is closed, marquis letters were removed and an orange sticker on the door.

Perhaps this has already been reported, I don't know. Chickies Italian Beef has opened a branch in Tri-Taylor:

Chickies on Taylor
2253 West Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60612-4233
(312) 226-0977‎
Closed Sunday

This considerably improves the beef options on our stretch of Taylor Street; veteran beefologists will remember Tri-Taylor as perhaps the nadir of Beefathons...
Beefathon IV - a tale of survival

This happened months ago, but driving across Dundee Road in Wheeling, I was reminded that Pico de Gallo, an underwhelming Mexican spot, has been replaced by a branch of the expanding Las Islas Marias chain, a definite improvement.

Las Islas Marias
784 W. Dundee Road
Wheeling, IL 60090
(847) 947-4500

Jack Rabbit is defunct. Tables are mostly gone with a for lease sign in the window.

Formerly at 4603 North Lincoln in Chicago

Didn't see this anywhere, so for those who don't know;

Brown Sack (3706 W. Armitage Ave.; 773-661-0675) shuts down on Saturday the 26th to relocate to 3581 West Belden Avenue. Adam Lebin, a partner, says it’s a much better space—more square footage, corner windows, and outdoor seating, which they’ve always wanted.

Not sure if anyone cares, but a new Papa Johns opened up in Niles, on Golf in the same strip mall as the now closed Giordanos. If I want to relive my college days, now I don't have to drive quite so far.

Amata wrote:Perhaps this has already been reported, I don't know. Chickies Italian Beef has opened a branch in Tri-Taylor:

Chickies on Taylor
2253 West Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60612-4233
(312) 226-0977‎
Closed Sunday

This considerably improves the beef options on our stretch of Taylor Street; veteran beefologists will remember Tri-Taylor as perhaps the nadir of Beefathons...
Beefathon IV - a tale of survival

Stopped by for lunch today Same beef, same giardinera same fries, same guys that own /bought the Pulaski store from Bob Bailey. Spoke with the owner who said he worked for Bob for 13 years. Didn't care for the high wall that totally hides the prep area Seating consists of narrow counters with stools and a few counter high tables. Located a couple blocks east of Western. Close early 7:30 nightly.

Not sure if anyone cares, but a new Papa Johns opened up in Niles, on Golf in the same strip mall as the now closed Giordanos. If I want to relive my college days, now I don't have to drive quite so far.

Do they still give you the garlic-butter sauce with pizzas? You could dip a gym shoe in that stuff and I would eat it (might of actually done that in college).

pizano345 wrote:

Not sure if anyone cares, but a new Papa Johns opened up in Niles, on Golf in the same strip mall as the now closed Giordanos. If I want to relive my college days, now I don't have to drive quite so far.

Do they still give you the garlic-butter sauce with pizzas? You could dip a gym shoe in that stuff and I would eat it (might of actually done that in college).

When my husband was in college, the guys on his floor paid their RA $5 to chug an entire cup of that stuff.

I like to dip my crusts in the stuff, but it would take more than $5 to drink an entire cup of it.

The old Kaze space @ 2032 W Roscoe St. has been pretty busy as of late:

There's a new awning up and a sign!: Hot Woks Cool Sushi
The gentleman inside, sealing the counters, said they hope to be open in two weeks or so.
We got an official notice asking if there are any objections to the space getting a liquor license; I think it's safe to assume it's gone through.

The other locations (hotwokscoolsushi.com) get OK reviews on yelp, but who doesn't?

The Tasting Room and Randolph Wine Cellars is closing. This is a real blow to me. Randolph Wine Cellars was a fantastic wine shop. Their monthly tastings were outstanding, and their sold-out champagne/sparkling wine tasting held every November was legendary. They will be missed.*

1415 Randolph Street
Chicago

*In the meantime, all wine is priced at 25% off. And, yes, they are already out of the 1998 Chateau Simard, I checked.

aschie30 wrote:The Tasting Room and Randolph Wine Cellars is closing. This is a real blow to me. Randolph Wine Cellars was a fantastic wine shop. Their monthly tastings were outstanding, and their sold-out champagne/sparkling wine tasting held every November was legendary. They will be missed.*

1415 Randolph Street
Chicago

*In the meantime, all wine is priced at 25% off. And, yes, they are already out of the 1998 Chateau Simard, I checked.

Update: I just learned that The Tasting Room is staying open. Randolph Wine Cellars will be converted to a restaurant.

Galapagos, the Ecuadorian-sushi place, seems to have had a fire. Don't know if that means it's gone for good, but it's not open for business right now, that's for sure, with that plywood over most of the windows.

According to the Mount Prospect Journal, Edith's Place, a Philipino joint at Rand and Central will be moving to Prospect Heights somewhere on Rand, I think it's probably in the center at Rand and Willow/Thomas. I was there once for lunch and was seriously not impressed.

Just an fyi that we're locking this thread because the quarter has ended.

Please visit this thread:

Openings, Closings, Comings & Goings, July - September 2010

to make updates and read current information about openings, closings, comings and goings.

Thanks,

=R=
for the moderators