jesteinf wrote:

spinynorman99 wrote:

tem wrote:The ex-Halsted Street Deli space at Clinton/Monroe is becoming a Hannah's Bretzel.

Woot. Definite improvement.

The location at Franklin/Madison is also recently closed, which is already an improvement.

They moved just a bit south to the former Quizno's at Franklin and Adams. There are no winners there.

Ugh. Is there really enough business for this place to continue? Are they running numbers (or meth) out of the back?

spinynorman99 wrote:

jesteinf wrote:

spinynorman99 wrote:The ex-Halsted Street Deli space at Clinton/Monroe is becoming a Hannah's Bretzel.

The location at Franklin/Madison is also recently closed, which is already an improvement.

They moved just a bit south to the former Quizno's at Franklin and Adams. There are no winners there.

Ugh. Is there really enough business for this place to continue? Are they running numbers (or meth) out of the back?

I'd love to know the background on these places & their owner. They opened a ton of them, often in conjunction with a Johnny Rocket's, and now I think most of them are closed.

rubbbqco wrote:

Never thought I'd say this but actually pretty bummed they're closing the Cal City Leona's --one of the VERY few sit down restaurants where I could get an edible soup and salad for lunch near my client (down there 2x/week.) Ugh.

I also never thought I'd say this, but I'll SURELY miss them. Leona's in RP is about 100 yards from my house - and while most of the food is consistently poor quality - it serves it's purpose here in Rogers Park. They have this big play/movie room off the dining room, with a large movie screen and toys; everyone lets their kids hang in there while they have a pre-dinner drink and normal adult conversation. It's a great set up if you have kids. And, their chicken wings are actually pretty good - good quality meat, ok sauce, and they don't split them - which I personally like.

So this means Leona's served precisely the function of a Mcdonalds, with a playroom. I suppose this is how much of the rest of the country must dine, by function. So I can understand how a Leona's chain can *have meaning*. My gripe against them is they exploit what meaning they do create in people's lives by overcharging. People go to Mcdonalds for functional reasons, and are even nostalgic about such visits but the food is priced on par for quality.

Firecakes Donuts - River North

The latest addition to Chicago's coffee-dunking circuit, Firecakes is a small-batch donut shop from the owner of La Madia, rotating a roster of sweetness like Tahitian vanilla glazed, blood orange and raspberry jelly, and Nutella long johns that'll provide a comfortable home for your (hazel)nuts.

Firecakes Donuts
68 W. Hubbard Street
312.329.6500
http://www.firecakesdonuts.com/

Sonafabitch, can somebody please open a doughnut shop out here?

This really isn't food-related, but it seems a lot of people use it as a reference: EveryBlock is done. From their blog:

We’re sorry to report that EveryBlock has closed its doors.

It’s no secret that the news industry is in the midst of a massive change. Within the world of neighborhood news there’s an exciting pace of innovation yet increasing challenges to building a profitable business. Though EveryBlock has been able to build an engaged community over the years, we’re faced with the decision to wrap things up.

Thank you for having let us play a role in how you get your neighborhood news. Thanks for the contributions, for the questions, and for allowing us to connect you to each other, in many cases to make great things happen in your community. Along the way, we hope we’ve helped you be a better neighbor.

River North craft tavern Farmhouse plans to open a restaurant in downtown Evanston in May.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... restaurant

Farmhouse co-owners Ferdia Doherty and TJ Callahan say they’re hoping for an early May opening at the 5,500-square-foot space in the Hilton Orrington building that formerly housed the sushi restaurant Futami.

http://evanston.patch.com/articles/farmhouse-brings-farm-to-tavern-eats-to-evanston

Xni-Pec is closing at the end of the month, as posted in the Xni-Pec discussion.

The hyperlocal social media website, http://chicago.everyblock.com , closed it's doors yesterday. Through the past year and a half I would send people from there to here all the time to get better information (laser focused ) on local neighborhood places. If you are looking for a replacement for your NW side EB places check this out: http://reddit.com/r/greatNWside

Takito Kitchen, a modern taqueria from David Dworshak, previously chef at Carnivale, will open in Wicker Park in March. The restaurant will feature Mexican-inspired dishes, including ceviche, tacos, soups and homemade tortillas.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130208/BLOGS09/130209818/carnivale-chef-to-open-wicker-park-restaurant

Some major players in the local restaurant scene are teaming up to open Guildhall in Glencoe this spring.

Glencoe residents Alec Litowitz, founder and CEO of Magnetar Capital, and Eric Fosse, founder and CEO of Homemade Pizza, have joined with real estate developer Albert Friedman, who owns the century-old building, for the 3,000-square-foot restaurant in the former Wienecke Hardware/Active Endeavors space at 694 Vernon Ave.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... in-glencoe

Some major players in the local restaurant scene are teaming up to open Guildhall in Glencoe this spring.

I wish them a lot of luck. Glencoe has traditionally not supported anything more exotic than Starbucks or Einstein Bagels.

sundevilpeg wrote:

Some major players in the local restaurant scene are teaming up to open Guildhall in Glencoe this spring.

I wish them a lot of luck. Glencoe has traditionally not supported anything more exotic than Starbucks or Einstein Bagels.

Not exactly exotic but when I was growing up, Glencoe had not 1 but 2 Jewish delis: Harrie's and Ricky's. We also had a bad-ass Vienna beef stand: Big Al's. But yes, the times have changed . . . drastically. The only carry-overs from those days are Ma Ma Louise's Little Red Hen and Chin's Chop Suey, both on Vernon. What isn't mentioned in the piece is the Writers' Theatre, which is expected to draw in customers for Guildhall. So, it won't have to rely strictly on Glencoe residents for its survival. Still, history says it won't be an easy feat making this place a success.

=R=

Debbie Sharpe, founder of The Goddess Restaurant Group, is about to open her fourth Goddess and Grocer deli while moving the first location across the street to a bigger space in Wicker Park. At the same time, she's searching for a new commissary location and scouting out space in the Loop and Hyde Park.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130212/BLOGS09/130219942/goddess-owner-scouting-downtown-locations

I just noticed that Tickie's belizian food now has a sign that says Red's Belizean food.

7605 N Paulina St
Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 973-3919

I'll bet you were wondering what is happening at the Murphy's Pub space at 7414 W Madison, Forest Park?

Chalk

... live music a couple nights a week...
... live band karaoke...
... traditional deep fried pub fare...

Donuts & More is coming soon to the retail space in front of Happy Foods on Devon & Central. Woo-hoo! Someplace to go besides Dunkin'!

Pie Lady wrote:Donuts & More is coming soon to the retail space in front of Happy Foods on Devon & Central. Woo-hoo! Someplace to go besides Dunkin'!

Interesting, because Dunkin was touted as the anchor tenant of that development when it was first proposed. Here's hoping that Donuts & More is a step up in quality.

A taste of Vienna has come to River West, thanks to Duran European Sandwiches Cafe, which specializes in open-face sandwiches created by the Duran family, who started the first of several shops in Vienna nearly 50 years ago. There also are outposts in Budapest and Istanbul.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130220/BLOGS09/130219760/vienna-by-way-of-river-west

Dave148 wrote:

A taste of Vienna has come to River West, thanks to Duran European Sandwiches Cafe, which specializes in open-face sandwiches created by the Duran family, who started the first of several shops in Vienna nearly 50 years ago. There also are outposts in Budapest and Istanbul.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130220/BLOGS09/130219760/vienna-by-way-of-river-west

Their sandwiches are great - reminding me of continental "tea-time" snack fare, but more substantial. Really liked them in Budapest. Surprised to hear they are coming to Chicago. Together with Meinl, that makes two interesting and prominent European eatery businesses that have chosen our fair city as their entry in to U.S. market. And they say Chicago is "flyover" country.

I've got your taste of Vienna right here:

http://www.viennabeef.com/

Dorado Restaurant, 2301 West Foster abruptly closed as of February 9th. From the Dorado Facebook page:

To our Customers from Dorado we will Like to Inform our Customers that we have Made the Decision to Close The Restaurant and Move Forward to a New Adventure in the Near Future our Last Day of Operation on this Location will be This Saturday February 9th.
We Will Like To Thank You All for This 9 Years off Success..

Thank You
Chef Luis Perez

Too bad, great spot and loved the seafood stuffed chili rellenos and smoke duck nachos...byob didnt hurt either!

smokinjoe wrote:Dorado Restaurant, 2301 West Foster abruptly closed as of February 9th. From the Dorado Facebook page:

To our Customers from Dorado we will Like to Inform our Customers that we have Made the Decision to Close The Restaurant and Move Forward to a New Adventure in the Near Future our Last Day of Operation on this Location will be This Saturday February 9th.
We Will Like To Thank You All for This 9 Years off Success..

Thank You
Chef Luis Perez

Too bad, great spot and loved the seafood stuffed chili rellenos and smoke duck nachos...byob didnt hurt either!

That's a bummer. We liked Dorado.

J. Alexander's on Clybourn is closed.

Not a great place but good for a quick lunch at the bar.

Something is going on behind the papered windows of the former Pompei at Sheffield and Wellington, but I can't tell what. (I strongly suspect it has to do with food, though.)

The Reza's on Clark just north of Fullerton closed a while back. Now in that space is something that really fills a need in Lincoln Park...a sports bar!

It's called LP Stadium, and it does actually look pretty nice.

Bad news (but not surprising)... Forum favorite...

Steve's Shish Kabob
10719 S Roberts Rd, Palos Hills
(708) 974-3530

... has closed.

I was going to stop in and decided to call before and the phone was disconnected and a drive by confirmed. It looks recent as the tables, chairs and many of the decorations were still in place but the sign was down and a for lease sign was up in the window.

Not surprising due to the quality and success of the other spots in the hood. While the other places food is excellent it cannot match the chef's touch that Steve could impart.

Al Bawadi Grill (where we ended up and had a great meal)
7216 W 87th St, Bridgeview
(708) 599-1999
http://www.albawadigrill.com

Almawal
10718 S Harlem Ave, Worth
(708) 361-5100

Life goes on

Meanwhile in the kingdom...

Nick's Pizza & Beef On Madison
330 Madison St, Oak Park
(708) 386-8200

Has closed and ...


Cuzzo's Pasta, Pizza & Panini

... is moving in.

Nick's was OK. Nothing too special.

Oak Park Dogs
108 Madison St #1, Oak Park
(708) 848-3647

Appears to have closed (or maybe the sign blew down?) and ...


Sheena's Soulfood & Deli

... has moving in. Drove by tonight at about 5:30 pm and it was not open. Maybe for lunch? The window looks the same (including the taco special sign).

Oak Park Dogs gave it a good go. Specialty sausages and turkey alternatives for many standard fast food items (burger, pastrami, hot dog). Never busy though.

[s]I thought it was soul food before Oak Park Dogs?[/s]

Yup! It was!

The "Noodle Bar", the extension/recreation of a downtown Manhattan hipster mini-chain of pan-Asian eateries, which was plopped down incongruously on the Lake Bluff village green, seems to have closed. I went by recently, noted that the windows were covered by butcher paper and a new sign proclaiming "Pasta Palooza" hung over the door.

20 E Scranton Ave
Lake Bluff, IL 60044
(847) 735-8170

All according to:
http://gazebonews.com/2012/12/05/lake-f ... ake-bluff/

Tom wrote:The "Noodle Bar", the extension/recreation of a downtown Manhattan hipster mini-chain of pan-Asian eateries, which was plopped down incongruously on the Lake Bluff village green, seems to have closed. I went by recently, noted that the windows were covered by butcher paper and a new sign proclaiming "Pasta Palooza" hung over the door.

20 E Scranton Ave
Lake Bluff, IL 60044
(847) 735-8170

A name like "Pasta Palooza" doesn't give me a lot of hope that the next business will make a long-term impact. What next, a bakery cleverly named "Bunnaroo?" A rotisserie joint dubbed "Turning Man?"

Drover wrote:A name like "Pasta Palooza" doesn't give me a lot of hope that the next business will make a long-term impact. What next, a bakery cleverly named "Bunnaroo?" A rotisserie joint dubbed "Turning Man?"

Funny, Drover! Yep, the Pasta Palooza guy, Mike Moore, is connected to Lincoln Park's Pasta Palazzo as well as Andersonville's Tapas Las Ramblas. In the context of Pasta Palazzo, I'm sure Pasta Palooza made perfect sense, at least after a couple of beers. Hmmm.....can Chop Suey A-Go-Go or Spaghetti-O-Rama be far behind?

http://gazebonews.com/2012/12/05/lake-f ... ake-bluff/