DKoblesky wrote:

Eric wrote:Pulp Kitchen is the new restaurant by the owners of Eggstacy that was just around the corner on 22nd.

A breakfast place? Have you been? Why is their signage so weird?

Never been. That's all I know. Found these links.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pulp-kitchen-oakbrook-terrace-2
http://www.webeggtodiffer.com/

Big Bricks Pizza finally opens this evening, February 13th after a soft opening over the weekend. This is the old Grizzly's space and has undergone a complete gut renovation and I must say the new space is beautiful.

Stopped in Sunday night after seeing lights on and was happy to see @ 15 craft beers on tap and a full lineup of appetizers, salads and pizza being offered. They also have an Olyer pit smoker and are serving ribs, chicken and pulled pork complete with traditional side offerings.

I've got a WSM and smoke regularly and am happy to report that the half slab of ribs ($13.97 half, $19.97 full, served with slaw and fries, which were both excellent) I ordered had nice bark and a great smoke ring and were really very tasty. Bonus points for food being comped due to soft opening!

Service was quick and servers wore white shirts/black pants so a little more upscale than your traditional pizza joint.

Will definitely be back and cant wait for warm weather to enjoy the beer garden in back. Great addition to the neighborhood. Opens daily at 5 PM so no lunch for the time being...

Big Bricks Pizza
3830 N Lincoln Avenue
773-525-5022

Nieto's is open in the old Carlos' spot. Same proprietors. The menu doesn't appeal to me, but YMMV.

Nieto's Restaurant
429 Temple
Highland Park, IL 60035
847-432-0770
http://nietosrestaurant.com/

Eric wrote:

DKoblesky wrote:

Eric wrote:Pulp Kitchen is the new restaurant by the owners of Eggstacy that was just around the corner on 22nd.

A breakfast place? Have you been? Why is their signage so weird?

Never been. That's all I know. Found these links.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pulp-kitchen-oakbrook-terrace-2
http://www.webeggtodiffer.com/

If I had to guess it's because they appear to be repainting the whole China Terrace building and they will have more permanent signage. When I drove past they had painted what looked like three sides of the building with white but the back was still the original sort of dark tan.

Guessing they'll remove the pagoda entry arch too!

ETA: I also noticed on the same trip that Eggstacy was closed down right around the corner, I didn't know the transformation was related though.

Hamburger Heaven (can't remember if it was Scott's or Kevin's?) on 35th east of Ashland is now Azteca.

Dave148 wrote:Allium, a name that makes reference to its focus on local ingredients and Chicago, will take over the former Seasons Lounge & Bar spot on the 7th floor of the hotel at 900 N. Michigan Ave.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... n-february

Opens February 15th - http://press.fourseasons.com/chicagofs/ ... l-chicago/

Eric wrote:Pulp Kitchen is the new restaurant by the owners of Eggstacy that was just around the corner on 22nd.

While I'm not much amused, I at least understand the pun behind Eggstacy. Somebody want to fill me in on what 'Pulp Kitchen' is supposed to be a play on? The only thing I can think of is Pulp Fiction, but it's not a very appetizing reference, nor even much of a pun.

Or is the name meant earnestly for some sort of raw vegan place?

ryanwc wrote:While I'm not much amused, I at least understand the pun behind Eggstacy. Somebody want to fill me in on what 'Pulp Kitchen' is supposed to be a play on? The only thing I can think of is Pulp Fiction, but it's not a very appetizing reference, nor even much of a pun.

My money is on you having understood the pun correctly.

ryanwc wrote:

Eric wrote:Pulp Kitchen is the new restaurant by the owners of Eggstacy that was just around the corner on 22nd.

The only thing I can think of is Pulp Fiction, but it's not a very appetizing reference

What, you don't dig on swine?

I assumed it meant pulp as in orange juice. That link above sends you to a coupon that features the name proceeded by a twist of orange peel.

Pie Lady wrote:

ryanwc wrote:The only thing I can think of is Pulp Fiction, but it's not a very appetizing reference

What, you don't dig on swine?

Only if it's one charming motherf'ing pig.

Perhaps they plan on making a very tasty burger?

And having a five-dollar milkshake (which doesn't sound like all that much anymore, right)?

Every day at half past noon, Pumpkin and Honey Bunny lookalikes stage a mock robbery to the delight of the customers.

Just got an email that America's Market in Wheeling will be closing their physical store as of March 3, but will continue to operate a web presence, including delivery of sodas. They may return to a physical presence in 2014.

To complete the story of America's Market closing -- the physical location will be gone, but they will still be active online. So those of you who have come to rely on him for whacky sodas and other regional specialties, they'll still be available. http://www.americasmarket.net/

And if you want to get their email updates, you can contact Todd here: Americas Market <americas_market@sbcglobal.net>

Here is Todd's message (so you get his phone number, too):

Dear Customer/Friends,

It is with a heavy heart, that I am announcing the closing of the physical store of America's Market as of March 3, 2012. It has been one of the highlights of my life to be a part of this operation and to have had the pleasure to have met so many wonderful people over the past four years. While, I have made the decision to close the store, I want to emphasize the website will continue to be operating. In the near future, I will be doing soda home/business deliveries, creating more unique gift baskets and adding the best of America's food products to the site. Please, continue to look for my emails for updates on the website throughout the year. I am really excited about the future updates to the website and to reopening a "revised" physical operation sometime in the year 2014.

Thank you,

Todd Schultheis
America's Market, Inc
847-850-2563

According to the current issue of Dish, ". . . Geno Bahena confirmed that the building housing Los Moles has sold and the restaurant will shutter on Friday." I thought it was already gone, but whatever.

Los Moles
3140 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-935-9620

Looking forward to his next restaurant opening in 3 months and then closing 6 months later.

The Fuji Buffet, which only recently opened after moving into the Wellington-Ashland strip mall space once occupied by Jumbo Buffet, now has a "Closed for Remodeling" sign on the door.

Not sure if this was mentioned but I do not believe so. An Italian restaurant called Amore Mia opened up about a month ago on Kedzie north of Addison.

AmoreMia
3824 N Kedzie
Chicago, IL 60618
http://www.amoremiachicago.com/

Trader Joe's is planning to open a store in Evanston, according to this Tribune story.

My SO and I have often joked about how Trader Joe's always seems to operate in locations where the amount of parking space is grossly inadequate for the amount of business they do, and the site they've chosen in Evanston fits this description perfectly.

When they opened the Clark/Diversey store part of the deal was that they also had to build a parking garage. Maybe they'll do the same in Evanston.

nsxtasy wrote:Trader Joe's is planning to open a store in Evanston, according to this Tribune story.

My SO and I have often joked about how Trader Joe's always seems to operate in locations where the amount of parking space is grossly inadequate for the amount of business they do, and the site they've chosen in Evanston fits this description perfectly.

That's more of the Portlandia section of Evanston - lots of reusable shopping bags and bikes.

spinynorman99 wrote:That's more of the Portlandia section of Evanston - lots of reusable shopping bags and bikes.

Not really. The lot at the Whole Foods just south of that site is often full too, and it's a bigger lot than the one they're moving to.

Walking and biking traffic is more common in downtown Evanston (like around the other Whole Foods) than south of Dempster.

Hi- I wonder if Trader Joe's is going to just gut out the building where Blockbuster was, or bulldoze it and start from scratch? I just hope that they don't put the parking lot on top of the building, like the downtown Evanston Whole Food's does. I hate that parking lot, and I will usually walk to WF, but if I do drive, I'll usually park in the lot next to the Evanston library.

The location Trader Joe's is moving into is about halfway between the two Whole Foods stores in Evanston, and it might do okay there. Maybe this will finally give me an excuse to shop at Trader Joe's. Thanks, Nancy

NFriday wrote:I just hope that they don't put the parking lot on top of the building, like the downtown Evanston Whole Food's does. I hate that parking lot, and I will usually walk to WF, but if I do drive, I'll usually park in the lot next to the Evanston library.

Really? That lot next to the library is often full, and you have to feed the meters. I never even bother looking there. When I go at prime times, when the rooftop WF lot is likely to be full, I instead park in the garage that's kitty-corner from WF. Up to an hour is free, and there are always plenty of spaces.

Hi- When I do drive to WF, it is usually on a Sunday when the parking is free in the city lot. I keep forgetting about the garage. I'm tempted to go there right now for the chicken deal, but it probably sold out hours ago. They had a limit of 10 chickens, which is a lot of chickens. Thanks, Nancy

Chickie's Italian Beef on Taylor Street has closed. It's too bad -- their original location on South Pulaski (also closed now) got high marks in one of the past Beef-athons.

Corner of Oakton St (Rt. 72) and Busse Rd (is that Elk Grove Village there?)- in the old location of the Spaghetti Warehouse, something is going in- it was dark and I was driving away from it....maybe Hamachi Grill?

Also, in the former Baker's Square spot, there's a White Castle going in.

At Oakton and Mt. Prospect Rd, in what used to be the coffeeshop/diner there, it's becoming a Taco Burrito King.

abe_froeman wrote:(is that Elk Grove Village there?)

Yes.

The January closing of What's Cooking apppears to have been due to a bankruptcy filing. The equipment will be auctioned off by the bankruptcy trustee on February 29. http://www.amer-auction.com/RESTAURANT.htm