"Golden Rise Bakery and Cafe" is coming to 1913 N Milwaukee in Bucktown, in the old Tea Essence space. It looks as though they already have furniture and decor (including framed pictures of food offerings in the windows), but no opening day sign yet. Also unclear is whether this is the same Golden Rise that sells at farmers markets around town and used to be at California and Diversey. But whether it is or not, that stretch of Milwaukee will be much improved by a sandwich place, and it will be great to get coffee there before boarding the Blue Line.

Eve to close on New Year’s Eve

David Hammond wrote: Eve to close on New Year’s Eve

How poetic.

stevez wrote:

David Hammond wrote: Eve to close on New Year’s Eve

How poetic.

Sorry to wreck the poetry, but I just got an email from Audarshia that Eve is actually going to close around 1/5.

The Eve of The Epiphany

There is a new Korean BBQ place opening on Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling/Buffalo Grove. It's right across from the Speedway. I think the name on it is "Wooli" or something like that. It could have potential.

chuckywang wrote:There is a new Korean BBQ place opening on Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling/Buffalo Grove. It's right across from the Speedway. I think the name on it is "Wooli" or something like that. It could have potential.

Hi,

A friend who lives nearby has pointed this out. It is just north of Lake-Cook Road. At least the last time I passed, there was a 'for lease' sign on the building. I double checked with my friend who said they are doing considerable remodelling inside.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:

chuckywang wrote:There is a new Korean BBQ place opening on Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling/Buffalo Grove. It's right across from the Speedway. I think the name on it is "Wooli" or something like that. It could have potential.

Hi,

A friend who lives nearby has pointed this out. It is just north of Lake-Cook Road. At least the last time I passed, there was a 'for lease' sign on the building. I double checked with my friend who said they are doing considerable remodelling inside.

Regards,

It's actually called Wooil. Not sure how to pronounce it though.

I was driving down Halstead, just north of North today and noticed a Dawali (same logo as the Kedzie branch) coming soon sign.

AlekH wrote:I didn't see it posted and sorry if it has been, but an empty storefront on Argyle just west of Sheridan has papered over windows and a sign announcing the coming arrival of Masala, which is billing itself as Indian / Thai food. It will be nice to get some new life into that stretch.

Masala is now open.

Masala
1002 W Argyle

David Hammond wrote:Sorry to wreck the poetry, but I just got an email from Audarshia that Eve is actually going to close around 1/5.

That's too bad. I really like the food there. But I'm not surprised, because the place was never more than half full whenever I've been there.

tapler wrote:

AlekH wrote:I didn't see it posted and sorry if it has been, but an empty storefront on Argyle just west of Sheridan has papered over windows and a sign announcing the coming arrival of Masala, which is billing itself as Indian / Thai food. It will be nice to get some new life into that stretch.

Masala is now open.

Masala
1002 W Argyle

I'll have to check this place out sometime this weekend. I noticed a sign indicating 100% halal meat but i can't help get the feeling it will be a minor variation on the popular Chinese/Sushi/Thai hybrid joint.

Hamburger Heaven Express has opened in the former Stan's Drive-In at Archer and Lock Streets. After Stan's closed, the place re-opened for the blink of an eye as Angela's/Angelo's, and then was empty until a few weeks ago. I hope this incarnation has better luck.

AlekH wrote:

tapler wrote:Masala is now open.

Masala
1002 W Argyle

I'll have to check this place out sometime this weekend. I noticed a sign indicating 100% halal meat but i can't help get the feeling it will be a minor variation on the popular Chinese/Sushi/Thai hybrid joint.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I am hoping that by billing itself as "Indian/Thai" that it's actually a Burmese place, but I fear that is wishful thinking. I think I remember reading that this place had some kind of connection to Ghareeb Nawaz.

All: About Caldwell, Niles..

Aegean Isles is OPEN!! 7201 N. Caldwell, Niles.. There Tel : 874-647-7722..

11:00am - 11:00pm.

I stoped by last night when I saw cars in the parking lot.. There is open sign. I call that a soft open.. Greek Music out side.. Cannot wait for some good Greek Food,.

The second Meli Cafe location has opened in River North, they are now serving breakfast and lunch daily from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm.

Haven't visited yet but am planning on checking it out this weekend. Apparently the space is much larger than the Greektown location and features a slightly different menu (new omlettes, sandwiches, price changes, etc).

Will visit and report back!

www.melicafe.com
540 North Wells Street
Chicago
312-527-1850

alisonmackenzie wrote:Hamburger Heaven Express has opened in the former Stan's Drive-In at Archer and Lock Streets. After Stan's closed, the place re-opened for the blink of an eye as Angela's/Angelo's, and then was empty until a few weeks ago. I hope this incarnation has better luck.

I wonder if this is connected with Kevin's Hamburger Heaven?

Crazy Jaws sign is up at 9001 N. Waukegan Road, Morton Grove. Must be opening soon. Website is open http://www.crazyjaws.com. Employment sign is up now.

Looks like the Culver's on Roosevelt in Berwyn has stalled.

Just a vacant lot with no equipment and a partial fence.

There is what I assume is a new place at 5100 N. Harlem Ave. called PRL Pub. It appears to be a burger joint.

New fried fish, shrimp, chicken, etc. place opened in Albany Park:

Fish N Go
4749 N Pulaski Rd
Chicago IL 60625
773-961-8235

Allegro Deli is open in the space formerly occupied by, if I remember correctly, Bertucci's, in Buffalo Grove. It is an eastern European deli with a large variety of fresh and prepared meat, fish, salads, sides and soups. Canned and packaged foods available as well. There are about 6-8 tables for eat-in. Haven't tried it yet, but it looks very interesting. It's on the east side of the street just north of Dundee in a strip mall.

Allegro Deli
771 South Buffalo Grove Road
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-3705
(847) 279-3900

Red Lion of Lincoln Square appears to have had a soft opening on Wednesday. There is a short menu posted in one window with dates December 22 and 23. The most expensive item on the limited menu was fish and chips made with cod but still under $11. Whether this menu has much predictive power is an open question as it may just have been used for an early shakedown.

Another sign says they will be open from one to nine PM on Boxing Day, Sunday, December 26.

There has been no notice posted about a liquor license application yet. Metromix listing indicates that they will be BYOB until they get a liquor license sometime in 2011.

Red Lion of Lincoln Square
4749 North Rockwell Street
Chicago 60625

Wasn't there some talk of all Arby's having closed? But the one on Route 60 in Mundelein is still open, and I've recently seen Arby's downstate, various places between here and Champaign, open as well.

Katie wrote:Wasn't there some talk of all Arby's having closed?

No.

Perhaps you are thinking of Bennigan's, which closed its company-owned locations but whose franchised locations remain open.

No, I'm sure there was some discussion (possibly in a previous quarter's opening-closing thread) on the supposed demise of Arby's. Definitely not thinking of Bennigan's. Ah, found it: in the April-June 2010 thread.

Katie wrote:No, I'm sure there was some discussion (possibly in a previous quarter's opening-closing thread) on the supposed demise of Arby's. Definitely not thinking of Bennigan's. Ah, found it: in the April-June 2010 thread.

As noted there, a few (four, to be precise) local locations closed. However, the article in the link notes that, while sales are down a bit nationwide, Arby's has 3500 locations and is on a three-year plan to renovate 75 percent of them.

Speaking of closed Arby's locations, the former Arby's in Wheeling on Elmhurst Rd. (Rt. 83) just north of Dundee is transforming into a Mexican restaurant called Cinco de Mayo. No indication as to an opening date, although the sign says they are "now hiring".

La Papas Beef and Sausage is reopening on the northeast corner of 111th and Pulaski. It closed about eight years ago and according to the local paper a relative of the original owner is at the helm. It looks like everything has been updated on the inside. Over the last several years the building has housed various sports souvineer shops based on what team was advancing in the playoffs. In between it sold cornhole game sets. From what I recall the food was a notch above your average beef stand.

Panther in the Den wrote:

alisonmackenzie wrote:Hamburger Heaven Express has opened in the former Stan's Drive-In at Archer and Lock Streets. After Stan's closed, the place re-opened for the blink of an eye as Angela's/Angelo's, and then was empty until a few weeks ago. I hope this incarnation has better luck.

I wonder if this is connected with Kevin's Hamburger Heaven?

I think it's more directly related to Scott's Hamburger Heaven. At least the employees wear Scott's T-shirts. Scott is Kevin's son.

Hamburger Heaven Express
3001 S Archer Av (~1400 W)
Chicago
773-801-0012

Scott's Hamburger Heaven
1546 W 35th St
Chicago
773-890-1042