KajmacJohnson wrote:

Drover wrote:

ekreider wrote:There will not be a new restaurant where Manzo's was. Signs on construction fence advertise a Chase Bank branch coming soon.

That may be, but so far they've only torn down half the building, namely the half that's been vacant for the better part of a decade. The Manzo's side is still intact. So it remains to be seen what will become of that space, whether Manzo's will re-open there, or somewhere else -- or at all. It also remains to be seen whether the Manzo's half of the building is coming down.

Actually, no. I pass by on my way to work daily and as of yesterday the back part of Manzo's was being torn apart. Didn't look today because I was focused on snow driving.

I drove by last night after getting off work and I would have to say 75% of the Manzo's portion is now knocked down.

KajmacJohnson wrote:

WestRidgeFoodie wrote:Not sure if it has been mentioned but Chipotle is coming to the "Strip mall" at Lincoln & Peterson Avenues across from Walgreens. The sign is up but they are still working on the interior.

Also from the Lincolnwood website, they are developing 2 outlots at Lincolnwood Towncenter and a Chipotle may be one of the tenats there as well
http://www.egovlink.com/public_document ... ebsite.pdf

Is that in the same lot as Walgreen's? Chipolte has to be the mosy unimaginative chain spreading like wildfire having recently been placed at the Jewel by me at Elston and Kedzie. If only the Corner Bakery was as aggressive in expansion instead.

I don't see Corner Bakery as being any more imaginative than Chipotle. Salads, pasta, soups, all pretty bland and probably come frozen from the warehouse that the Ark of the Covenant is stored in.

Not to mention, Chipotle's food tastes better than Corner Bakery's.

Carm’s Beef Opens in Tinley Park

Carm’s Beef, a new Italian restaurant with a rich history, has opened at 17801 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park.

The original Carm’s was opened in 1947 by owner Mick Nebren’s grandmother at Cicero Avenue and what would become the Eisenhower Expressway. A second store followed in Berwyn and then a store was located in Hillside for more than three decades.
708-444-4272.

JoelF wrote:

sdbond wrote:The Glenview location of Gulliver's Pizza, 4520 Lake Ave, has closed.

This seems to be one of those "haunted" spots that can't keep a business open.

My son was in there shortly before New Year's and they said they're relocating, I think to somewhere near Waukegan and Golf.
Their website has "Glenview: Coming soon"

In terms of the spot being cursed -- it hasn't been that many businesses, most of which fell into the "Greek Diner" category, Gulliver's being the exception. However, losing one of the hotels on that property, for which it served as the nearest resto can't have helped.

Ah. Thanks for the additional information. The website only said that location was closed; it did not indicate they were relocating. I was going by what a friend who works nearby told me. I worked within walking distance of that spot for more than five years, and do remember "Glenview Delite" there for most of that time.

PortPkPaul wrote:Could Pie Lady have misread the question as where is North Center as opposed to where in North Center? As a former resident, even many Chicagoans are unfamiliar with the name (many call it St. Ben's), so it would not be an unusual question. Big Bricks couldn't be near both Lutz and Laschet's because one is at Montrose near Western and the other is Irving Park near Damen.

An aside, but I think part of the "unfamiliarity" is conscious rebellion. In a city of great neighborhoods with great names, "North Center" is about as lackluster as they come. St. Ben's probably has fallen out of favor when the neighborhood lost its Catholic majority. North Center needs a new name.

North Center needs a new name.

Ha! I've thought the same thing.

PortPkPaul wrote:

KajmacJohnson wrote:I don't see Corner Bakery as being any more imaginative than Chipotle. Salads, pasta, soups, all pretty bland and probably come frozen from the warehouse that the Ark of the Covenant is stored in.

I don't care for Mexican food so Chipotle is useless to me. Also, in a city full of vibrant Mexican Americans, Chipotle would definately be the last on my list of patronziing if I ever felt the overwhelming need to get a burrito. What I do care about, however, is that the location on Elston is down the street from my home while the other one opening is right around the corner from where my parents live and down the street from my job. I would much rather see a chain I am much more likely to patronzie than one I would not. I like Corner Bakery, it isn't my favorite place but it's not a terrible choice if all you want is solid food that isn't some crap like McD's, BK or (shudder) KFC and I wish there were more locations closer to me a la Panera.

Well, Chipotle isn't Mexican food, so no problem. Corner Bakery just always seems to take a good idea for a dish and execute it terribly. Chipotle tends to execute very well.

Instead of actually eating Chipotle, I just cut to the chase and chug 8 ounces of high powered liquid laxative spiked with tabasco. Well executed indeed.

ryanwc wrote:

PortPkPaul wrote:Could Pie Lady have misread the question as where is North Center as opposed to where in North Center? As a former resident, even many Chicagoans are unfamiliar with the name (many call it St. Ben's), so it would not be an unusual question. Big Bricks couldn't be near both Lutz and Laschet's because one is at Montrose near Western and the other is Irving Park near Damen.

An aside, but I think part of the "unfamiliarity" is conscious rebellion. In a city of great neighborhoods with great names, "North Center" is about as lackluster as they come. St. Ben's probably has fallen out of favor when the neighborhood lost its Catholic majority. North Center needs a new name.

FWIW, I remember St. Ben's referring to the neighborhood south of Irving Park with North Center referring primarily to the area north of Irving Park (Roscoe Village/St. Ben's/North Center/Lincoln Square, south to north, with Ravenswood mashed in there somewhere for good measure). But it does indeed seem like St. Ben's is falling out of use.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand...

rmtraut wrote:

North Center needs a new name.

Ha! I've thought the same thing.

It doesn't suit the neighborhood at all, which is actually rather interesting. The name is just, hi, we're North Center, we have streets and houses and sidewalks. Hi.

A new Pret A Manger is under construction inside 225 N. Michigan. In the former Ponte Fresco space. No indication as to when it will open, but work appears to be moving along nicely.

gleam wrote:Well, Chipotle isn't Mexican food, so no problem.

You beat me to it.

=R=

Drover wrote:FWIW, I remember St. Ben's referring to the neighborhood south of Irving Park with North Center referring primarily to the area north of Irving Park (Roscoe Village/St. Ben's/North Center/Lincoln Square, south to north, with Ravenswood mashed in there somewhere for good measure). But it does indeed seem like St. Ben's is falling out of use.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand...

If we could indulge one more question about North Center (and I'll be grateful for the indulgence, because I know it's somewhat outside the purview), there is or used to be a sign saying North Center south of Irving, on Lincoln somewhere near the Trader Joes, like around Grace. So I always thought that was the area called North Center. I agree it's a terrible name.

riddlemay wrote:

Drover wrote:FWIW, I remember St. Ben's referring to the neighborhood south of Irving Park with North Center referring primarily to the area north of Irving Park (Roscoe Village/St. Ben's/North Center/Lincoln Square, south to north, with Ravenswood mashed in there somewhere for good measure). But it does indeed seem like St. Ben's is falling out of use.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand...

If we could indulge one more question about North Center (and I'll be grateful for the indulgence, because I know it's somewhat outside the purview), there is or used to be a sign saying North Center south of Irving, on Lincoln somewhere near the Trader Joes, like around Grace. So I always thought that was the area called North Center. I agree it's a terrible name.

Well, there's the separate issue of neighborhood names versus community areas. Neighborhood names are unofficial and often in flux with borders shifting expanding/contracting/etc., or with new neighborhood names coming into use (ask an old-timer about "Wrigleyville") and others falling out of use (as happened with Japantown and now seems to be happening with St. Bens). Then there's the 77 official Community Areas whose borders are fixed. Sometimes a neighborhood name and community area name are the same; but even when that's the case, they are often not coterminous. Such is the case with North Center. One can debate whether the neighborhood between the Metra tracks and Western south of Irving Park should be called St. Ben's or North Center; but wherever you fall in this debate, it's unarguable that said area falls within the official North Center community area.

Drover wrote:Well, there's the separate issue of neighborhood names which are unofficial and often in flux with borders expanding/contracting/etc., and then there's the official 77 Community Areas. Sometimes a neighborhood name and community area name are the same, but even when that's the case, they are often not coterminous. Such is the case with North Center. One can debate whether the neighborhood between Damen and Western south of Irving Park should be called St. Ben's or North Center; but wherever you fall in this debate, it's unarguable that said area falls within the official North Center community area.

Yes, that's very true. The community areas were defined over 80 years ago, with specific boundaries, using their most common names, so that these areas could be analyzed over the years. Changes are rare; only two changes have been made since then, one for the city's annexation of O'Hare, the other to separate Edgewater from Uptown. Neighborhood names and boundaries do indeed change, as anyone who remembers New Town, and who remembers when there was no such thing as Boystown, and who remembers when Andersonville didn't extend south of Foster, can tell you.

Wikipedia has pretty good descriptions of the community areas here and of some 200 constantly-changing neighborhood names here. As noted there:

the North Center community area "is bordered on the north by Montrose Avenue, on the south by Diversey Parkway, on the west by the Chicago River and on the east by Ravenswood Avenue; it includes the neighborhoods of Northcenter, Roscoe Village, St. Ben's, and Hamlin Park."

"The neighborhood known as Northcenter refers to a neighborhood in the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. Boundaries of Northcenter are Addison on the south, Montrose on the north, the Chicago River on the west and Ravenswood (1800 W) on the east." It uses one word for the name of the neighborhood, two for the community area. Here is how they distinguish the neighborhood of Northcenter from other neighborhoods within the North Center community area:

"While not part of any official city map, Chicago residents perceive the boundaries of the neighborhood [Roscoe Village] to be Addison Street to the north, Belmont Avenue to the south, Ravenswood Avenue to the east and the Chicago River to the west."

"St. Ben's is an unofficial neighborhood with boundaries at Irving Park Road on the north, Addison Street on the south, Damen Avenue on the east, and Western Ave. on the west."

"The Hamlin Park neighborhood is bounded by Belmont Avenue on the north, Ravenswood Avenue on the east, the Diversey Parkway on the south and the North Branch of the Chicago River on the west."

KajmacJohnson wrote:
I don't care for Mexican food so Chipotle is useless to me. Also, in a city full of vibrant Mexican Americans, Chipotle would definately be the last on my list of patronziing if I ever felt the overwhelming need to get a burrito.

I'm not Mexican, but for some reason, this doesn't seem like the most complimentary statement about Mexicans. And THEN there is the comment about the food.

gleam wrote:Well, Chipotle isn't Mexican food, so no problem. Corner Bakery just always seems to take a good idea for a dish and execute it terribly. Chipotle tends to execute very well.

Sorry about that. Then I guess it's nothing but flavorless heap of food once owned by McDonald's. I don't really care what it is, I know they serve food that I don't particularly care for, but when it is oversaturating the neighborhoods I live and visit in, then I care because I am allowed to want better choices that suit my needs.

I never said Corner Bakery was the height of culinary delight, but it would be nice if they threw in locations closer to me because I happen to think that once in a while they aren't so bad if I need a quick bite for decent price and friendly atmosphere, for a chain. Also, it's something I can take my picky aging parents too without complaint.

tl;dr: I think Chipotle is fine for what it is and that Corner Bakery (owned by the same company that owns Arby's) is terrible. You think Corner Bakery (formerly owned by the same company that owns Red Lobster and Olive Garden) is fine for what it is and that Chipotle is terrible.

Different strokes.

gleam wrote:tl;dr: I think Chipotle is fine for what it is and that Corner Bakery (owned by the same company that owns Arby's) is terrible. You think Corner Bakery (formerly owned by the same company that owns Red Lobster and Olive Garden) is fine for what it is and that Chipotle is terrible.

Different strokes.

I remember the early days at CB fondly. When they first came on the scene, their food had a certain specialness. These days, it feels very institutional to me, almost to the point where I feel like I'm not eating real food. That said, I haven't eaten there in a couple of years.

I'm not a huge fan of Chipotle either but do find it an easier place to find something to eat and I think the ingredient quality/provenance is much higher.

I wouldn't go out of my way for either but if I were hungry and in a spot where they were next door to each other, I'd choose Chipotle far more often, even though, after watching this television series, I vowed a boycott because of how frigging annoying the founder was.

Sorry, for the digression. But there's no better place for it than on this thread, right?

=R=

rmtraut wrote:

North Center needs a new name.

Ha! I've thought the same thing.

Something that doesn't sound like a mall.

How about Xtreme Lincoln Square?

gleam wrote:...Corner Bakery (owned by the same company that owns Arby's) is terrible...

The coffee's not bad. But I like a good Arby's, so don't listen to me.

Pie Lady wrote:

gleam wrote:...Corner Bakery (owned by the same company that owns Arby's) is terrible...

The coffee's not bad. But I like a good Arby's, so don't listen to me.

With enought horsey sauce I'd eat a shoe so you won't get any argument from me.

gleam wrote:tl;dr: I think Chipotle is fine for what it is and that Corner Bakery (owned by the same company that owns Arby's) is terrible. You think Corner Bakery (formerly owned by the same company that owns Red Lobster and Olive Garden) is fine for what it is and that Chipotle is terrible..

Darden owns Red Lobster and Oliver garden.

Brinker's formerly owned Corner Bakery.

And put me with the group that thinks that Chipotle is grossly overrated.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

gleam wrote:tl;dr: I think Chipotle is fine for what it is and that Corner Bakery (owned by the same company that owns Arby's) is terrible. You think Corner Bakery (formerly owned by the same company that owns Red Lobster and Olive Garden) is fine for what it is and that Chipotle is terrible.

Different strokes.

I remember the early days at CB fondly. When they first came on the scene, their food had a certain specialness. These days, it feels very institutional to me, almost to the point where I feel like I'm not eating real food. That said, I haven't eaten there in a couple of years.

I'm not a huge fan of Chipotle either but do find it an easier place to find something to eat and I think the ingredient quality/provenance is much higher.

I wouldn't go out of my way for either but if I were hungry and in a spot where they were next door to each other, I'd choose Chipotle far more often, even though, after watching this television series, I vowed a boycott because of how frigging annoying the founder was.

Sorry, for the digression. But there's no better place for it than on this thread, right?

=R=

Chipotle guy thinks this post would be much better if it were more like Chipotle.

Follow me into National Chains if you'd like to continue the Chipotle (and ilk) discussions.

Not sure if it was mentioned here already but Gulliver's in Glenview on Lake Ave. is closed.

cito wrote:

sam9111 wrote:Whats Cooking at Lincoln and McCormick in Chicago has closed its doors...

It appears that the current owner is not reopning.


Sam C
Evanston,IL

Wow, that's a real kick in the head.
For some reason, I thought that they would be around forever.

Sad, this place has been there forever and we would frequent there, maybe not enough..

Is this not the same owners of George's What's Cooking??? Is the Northbrook location still open??

WestRidgeFoodie wrote:Is this not the same owners of George's What's Cooking??? Is the Northbrook location still open??

It's in Deerfield and still open - http://www.georgeswhatscooking.com/