Katie wrote:

JoelF wrote:Something is going on at the old Hackney's on Milwaukee in Wheeling. There's workers going in and out the doors, taking out (or is it adding?) windows, etc.

According to a Dec 2011 bit in the Daily Herald:

A new pizza restaurant will be coming to the vacant former Hackney’s building on Milwaukee Avenue in Wheeling. D’Agostino’s Pizza, which has four locations in the Chicago area, will open next spring.

I like Dags too, but not enough to want them in this location. They are in the Glen not too far from there anyway.

I might as well mention if it hadn't been before that the Gino's East location in Deerfield (that was not for the locals) in the Embassy Suites hotel closed. I was always a little annoyed at this location because it seemed like they may have had a better chance of sticking around with a normal storefront, not one hidden in a hotel. The old Hackney's would have been a better spot for a Gino's East, but c'est la vie. I don't really understand Gino's East. They have some of the best deep dish pizza around (when it's good), but some of their locations are mediocre (Mishawaka is horrible), and while some get really busy, some seem to be empty whenever I go. The Lake Zurich location was one of the best ones, but they closed too.

Just happened to notice yesterday while driving by--
In Patty's old space on Main in Skokie: Rama's Diner. A hand-lettered sign in the window promises ham on bone, hash browns, and 2 eggs for $6.99.
I was on my way back from an LTH North lunch at Pequod's--and on my way to a pizza-induced coma, so there was no room to check it out. No idea how long they have been open....
A phone call today ascertained the hours are 6 am to 3 pm daily (including Sundays), closed Mondays.

Rama's Diner
3358 Main Street
Skokie
847/293-2903

tarte tatin wrote:Just happened to notice yesterday while driving by--
In Patty's old space on Main in Skokie: Rama's Diner. A hand-lettered sign in the window promises ham on bone, hash browns, and 2 eggs for $6.99.
I was on my way back from an LTH North lunch at Pequod's--and on my way to a pizza-induced coma, so there was no room to check it out. No idea how long they have been open....
A phone call today ascertained the hours are 6 am to 3 pm daily (including Sundays), closed Mondays.

Rama's Diner
3358 Main Street
Skokie
847/293-2903

When this place opened up a few months ago, needless to say I was very excited. I had high hopes that someone would continue the Patty's tradition. I didn't post about my meal because it really sucked big time. Basically if you think of what a diner which is the exact opposite of Patty's would be like, you'll get a pretty good picture of what to expect at Rama's Diner.

stevez wrote:When this place opened up a few months ago, needless to say I was very excited. I had high hopes that someone would continue the Patty's tradition. I didn't post about my meal because it really sucked big time. Basically if you think of what a diner which is the exact opposite of Patty's would be like, you'll get a pretty good picture of what to expect at Rama's Diner.

I hesitated before I posted because I hadn't tried the place, but I guess I was just as excited as you to see a diner in operation there again. Should have known lightning doesn't usually strike the same place twice....

Woodfire Chicken on Lake Cook in Deerfield is no more, apparently a victim of the perpetual Lake Cook construction project.
http://northbrook.patch.com/articles/ro ... re-closing

AlexG wrote:Woodfire Chicken on Lake Cook in Deerfield is no more, apparently a victim of the perpetual Lake Cook construction project.
http://northbrook.patch.com/articles/ro ... re-closing

That's too bad... was one of those places I drove past for YEARS before finally stopping in and it was surprisingly good. Used to get carryouts from there a fair amount during the 6 mo. that I was living w/ my parents in HP after moving back to the area. Haven't been there in probably 7-8 years now, but still sorry to hear of its demise.

My man on the street reports that the Dominicks on Townline Road in Vernon Hills has closed.

Hi- I know that everybody will be excited to hear that another Subway has opened up in downtown Evanston. This one is on Clark Street right next to Einstein Brothers Bagels. That makes three Subway's in downtown Evanston if you include the one on Emerson that opened up a few years ago. I don't know why anybody would want to open up another Subway franchise. Thanks, Nancy

I think that this is the third time that I'm posting on this recently-cursed location, but "Coming Soon" La Tavola Trattoria. It will occupy the former Kalyva/ other Greek restaurant / Rossini's space at Milwaukee & Dempster ( Niles )

I believe that the "fine print" on the sign indicated that it is affiliated with Carlos & Carlos in Arlington Heights.

matad wrote:

A little birdie told me that a new Catering / Restaurant is opening this month or next that goes by the name of the Finicky Cat.

One of the chefs is Katie Garcia who was the head chef over at Zebda, and used to have her own restaurant (I forget the name, but it used to be right by the 18th street stop on the Pink line).

I'll have more details as I get them. But having seen the rough draft of the menu, it looks good

Uh-oh, what does that mean for Zebda?

NFriday wrote:Hi- I know that everybody will be excited to hear that another Subway has opened up in downtown Evanston. This one is on Clark Street right next to Einstein Brothers Bagels. That makes three Subway's in downtown Evanston if you include the one on Emerson that opened up a few years ago. I don't know why anybody would want to open up another Subway franchise. Thanks, Nancy

Jeez, we counted the Subways on my husband's commute on Dempster between Milwaukee Ave and McCormick and I think we counted 8 or 9 of them. Mostly east of the Edens. Ridiculous.

Ram4 wrote:I might as well mention if it hadn't been before that the Gino's East location in Deerfield (that was not for the locals) in the Embassy Suites hotel closed. I was always a little annoyed at this location because it seemed like they may have had a better chance of sticking around with a normal storefront, not one hidden in a hotel. The old Hackney's would have been a better spot for a Gino's East, but c'est la vie. I don't really understand Gino's East. They have some of the best deep dish pizza around (when it's good), but some of their locations are mediocre (Mishawaka is horrible), and while some get really busy, some seem to be empty whenever I go. The Lake Zurich location was one of the best ones, but they closed too.

The Lake Zurich one had good pizza (for Gino's East) and the lunch buffet, before they scaled it back, was very good- great variety of pizza, pasta, salad, soup and usually chicken and fish choices, but I had an Italian Beef there once that was inedibly salty.

cito wrote:I think that this is the third time that I'm posting on this recently-cursed location, but "Coming Soon" La Tavola Trattoria. It will occupy the former Kalyva/ other Greek restaurant / Rossini's space at Milwaukee & Dempster ( Niles )

I believe that the "fine print" on the sign indicated that it is affiliated with Carlos & Carlos in Arlington Heights.

Holy cow, I didn't even know they were closed!

Cafe Neo in Lincoln Square is closed.

The windows of the old Coffee Beanery at Howard/Skokie/Lincoln are covered in foil now, with a couple of 8x12 Horton campaign posters. I don't know if this will become a headquarters or somebody is just sticking these up randomly.

Pie Lady wrote:The windows of the old Coffee Beanery at Howard/Skokie/Lincoln are covered in foil now, with a couple of 8x12 Horton campaign posters.

Sherman Dodge from across the street owns the property. They store cars over there.

Indeed. Sounds like a terrible idea since that property is open on all sides.

abe_froeman wrote:Jeez, we counted the Subways on my husband's commute on Dempster between Milwaukee Ave and McCormick and I think we counted 8 or 9 of them. Mostly east of the Edens. Ridiculous.

Subway is the cheapest franchise you can buy into because they offer no territorial restrictions. They'll sell a franchise to your next-door neighbor, so it's not unusual to see them a block apart, especially downtown.

I didn't see anyone mention it, but from last week's Dish:

Chicago Mag wrote:The bánh mì specialist Ba Le will launch its first Loop location—at 166 West Washington Street—in July.

That location was formerly a Subway. Now if we can just convert the other 36,542 Subways around the world into bánh mì shops...

clogoodie wrote:I didn't see anyone mention it, but from last week's Dish:

Chicago Mag wrote:The bánh mì specialist Ba Le will launch its first Loop location—at 166 West Washington Street—in July.

That location was formerly a Subway. Now if we can just convert the other 36,542 Subways around the world into bánh mì shops...

I'm reasonably confident that at least 3 more opened while you were typing your post.

spinynorman99 wrote:I'm reasonably confident that at least 3 more opened while you were typing your post.

There's a location counter on their website. On February 8th, it was at 36,188...so that's 354 new locations in 57 days, which averages out to about 6 per day and proves the apocalypse is coming.

clogoodie wrote:

spinynorman99 wrote:I'm reasonably confident that at least 3 more opened while you were typing your post.

There's a location counter on their website. On February 8th, it was at 36,188...so that's 354 new locations in 57 days, which averages out to about 6 per day and proves the apocalypse is coming.

Please remember to duck from all the five dollar footlongs darting through the air.

Disclaimer: I really, really have an unnatural, intense dislike for Subway. In fact, I am hoping that one day we will wake up and find all 36,000+ locations turned into ANYTHING else.

KajmacJohnson wrote:Disclaimer: I really, really have an unnatural, intense dislike for Subway.

Nothing unnatural about that...Subway deserves all the vitriol we can dish out. Is there a dedicated thread?

BRB, gonna take a tasty trip to Italy with a Chicken Pizziola Melt. Eat Fresh!

Eat Fresh sounds like a kiss off. You cut me off, you sonofabitch...EAT FRESH!!

Noticed on my way home from Costco today that another Costco will be opening at 14th & Ashland! I am totally stoked, I could practically walk there (assuming I had way more time to shop than normal, and also assuming I wasn't going to buy bulk whatever). So this will be much, much closer than the one in Bedford Park, or, heaven forfend, Lincoln Park.

According to the Mount Prospect Journal and Topics, a Mariano's Market is planned on the former Culligan's HQ on Willow near 294 and Sanders (where the Astellas HQ is being built), and another considered for Golf and Waukegan.

Source:
http://www.journal-topics.com/news/arti ... f6878.html

While on my way home with fish from Robert's Fish Market on Devon for my Passover Seder tomorrow night, I spotted a new bakery at Devon and Fairfield called Nana's Bakery. In the window they advertised cakes of all kinds (with pics of layer cakes) as well as naan. Not the day for me to stop and buy leavened products but hope to check it out when the holiday is over.

Nana's Bakery
2732 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 764-6262

NFriday wrote:Hi- I know that everybody will be excited to hear that another Subway has opened up in downtown Evanston. This one is on Clark Street right next to Einstein Brothers Bagels. That makes three Subway's in downtown Evanston if you include the one on Emerson that opened up a few years ago. I don't know why anybody would want to open up another Subway franchise. Thanks, Nancy

Subway must have virtually zero territory protection for its franchises. Granted I live in a densely populated area, but there are literally 16 Subways within a 2-mile radius of me. When I went to grad school downtown,there were at least 3 Subways within a block of the campus. It was ludicrous. I expect one day to see a Subway franchise open in the back room of another Subway.

Even if Subway's stuff tasted good, I would be put off by a restaurant chain owned by a corporation called Doctor's Associates. You'll need one after you eat here? Our food tastes like medicine?

PortPkPaul wrote:Even if Subway's stuff tasted good, I would be put off by a restaurant chain owned by a corporation called Doctor's Associates.

Does anyone know (for real) what's behind that name? Was the chain started and/or still owned by a consortium of doctors? Enquiring minds want to know.

riddlemay wrote:Does anyone know (for real) what's behind that name? Was the chain started and/or still owned by a consortium of doctors? Enquiring minds want to know.

"Doctor's Associates, owners of Subway, was founded by Peter Buck and Fred DeLuca in 1966, when they opened the second Subway restaurant in New York.[5] The name comes from the fact that Buck holds a PhD. Despite their name and Subway's health-conscious image, neither Subway nor Doctor's Associates are affiliated with, nor endorsed by, any medical organizations or doctors." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subway_(restaurant)

JoelF wrote:According to the Mount Prospect Journal and Topics, a Mariano's Market is planned on the former Culligan's HQ on Willow near 294 and Sanders (where the Astellas HQ is being built), and another considered for Golf and Waukegan.

Source:
http://www.journal-topics.com/news/arti ... f6878.html

Interesting ... I don't have a link to post, because the story is now several months old, but it was reported in the Park Ridge "media" that Mariano's wants to open in our fair city at Touhy and Cumberland. Officials with the company have yet to present anything to the committee that would be the first step in the process to being approved, though, as far as I know.