It looks like Brand BBQ and Marrakech Cuisine have closed.

Important Reminder:

LTH,

Please, do not post about a closing without making absolutely certain that your information is correct and accurate in every way.

Please, do not post rumors of closings without linking to a credible, 3rd-party source that substantiates your report. (i.e. "Eater.com reports . . ." is ok)

It's far more important to be accurate than early with your information. The best course of action may be to make a phone call to the establishment before posting anything. But whatever you do, make sure you are 100% correct before posting about a closing on this thread or any other in these forums.

Thanks again,

=R=
for the moderators

I noticed a sign stating "Smoque coming soon" today while having brunch at Senza in property across the street (2900 block of North Broadway in Chicago - southeastern section of the Lakeview neighborhood). Anybody know if this is going to be a sister restaurant of Smoque BBQ on Pulaski? I asked someone at Senza and she said she thought that it was, but was not certain. If so, this is really becoming a hot area with fairly recent openings of Senza, Bar Pastoral and Frog n Snail all nearby; a brewery (Dryhop) scheduled to open this spring and Peasantry and Kuma's Too not too far away, not to mention a couple other BBQ joins that recently opened (Milt's and Wrigley).

Gonzo70 wrote:I noticed a sign stating "Smoque coming soon" today while having brunch at Senza in property across the street (2900 block of North Broadway in Chicago - southeastern section of the Lakeview neighborhood

Sadly, no.

The unique e-cigarette lounge Smoque is coming to East Lake View, bringing upwards of 30 flavors of simulated smoke to the busy business corridor.

http://lakeview.patch.com/articles/vapor-lounge-serving-e-cigarettes-coffee-on-north-broadway

Dave148 wrote:

Gonzo70 wrote:I noticed a sign stating "Smoque coming soon" today while having brunch at Senza in property across the street (2900 block of North Broadway in Chicago - southeastern section of the Lakeview neighborhood

Sadly, no.

The unique e-cigarette lounge Smoque is coming to East Lake View, bringing upwards of 30 flavors of simulated smoke to the busy business corridor.

http://lakeview.patch.com/articles/vapor-lounge-serving-e-cigarettes-coffee-on-north-broadway

Too bad, but thanks for the information.

Kitchen Eatery will be opening in the old Kopper Kitchen spot at Rt. 83 and St. Charles Rd.
http://elmhurst.patch.com/articles/kopp ... nt-no-more

Looks like it will be a comfort food/50s-style diner.

Cafe 28, a Cuban and Mexican mainstay on Irving Park Road in Lakeview, has fallen victim to financial woes. The restaurant closed Sunday afternoon after 17 years near the Irving Park Brown Line stop.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130225/BLOGS09/130229886/fishy-story-cafe-28-closed-bad-taste-and-baconfest

Mariano's is New Anchor Tenant at 111th Street Development

Mariano's Fresh Market will anchor the redevelopment at 111th Street and Cicero Avenue. Oak Lawn Village Board set to make presentation at Tuesday's regular meeting.

from a fairly reliable source:

Rub's Backcountry Smokehouse to open in a new space 6954 N. Western Ave. Formerly Rub BBQ Company, the new space is larger, has an expanded menu, using 2 100% hardwood burning smokers, and a wood-fired grill. We've added a wood-fire grilled sandwich menu: utilizing smoked meats to make unique sandwiches (think panini on a wood-fired grill), we're serving fresh-brewed root beer, our desserts are now taking a short turn in the smoker. We've really fine-tuned the machine, and are excited to open the new space. It seats about 40, still BYOB, really well-done space, comfy, bright, cool music (all vinyl, all day), same friendly staff with a few additions.

new website is live: http://www.backcountryq.com

We passed our final inspection a few days ago, and are all set to open 3/1/2013 at 11am for lunch.

Rub's Backcountry Smokehouse
6954 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60645
http://www.backcountryq.com

FULL DISCLAIMER: As many of you know, I own Rub

rubbbqco wrote:from a fairly reliable source:

rubbbqco wrote:Rub's Backcountry Smokehouse to open in a new space 6954 N. Western Ave. Formerly Rub BBQ Company

Will you be changing your username?

I think "rub'sbackcountrysmokehouseformerlyrubbbqco" is a bit long.

Not Cafe 28. Noooo!

Drover wrote:Las Cazuelas on Elston just north of Lawrence is papered over. Wonder what took so long for that wretched place to heave its terminal breath.

A banner hanging on the building says "Coming Soon: La Quinta de los Reyes" or something pretty close to that. I have a sneaking suspicion that one overpriced mediocre Mexican restaurant is being replaced by another. But I'd be delighted to be proved wrong.

That was posted 8 months ago, and La Quinta de los Reyes finally opened this week. Someone mentioned there's a restaurant by the same name in Aurora, I don't know if they're affiliated. However, they do have the same logo/font/etc. of an identically named restaurant in Berwyn.

I think "rub'sbackcountrysmokehouseformerlyrubbbqco" is a bit long.

Agreed...I think I'll just keep it the same - we're still Rub - we still serve BBQ - and we're a company - so rubbbqco seems ok to leave as is.

Art of the Chicken, which has been almost ready since the summer, looks like it is finally set to open this weekend, or early next week. Latin influenced roast chicken with an artsy chicken coop decor.
http://bucktown-wickerpark.patch.com/ar ... g-on-damen

Art of the Chicken
2041 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647

cleanplateclub wrote:Not Cafe 28. Noooo!

According to Eater, they intend to re-open in a smaller, cheaper location.

Chicago investor Fred Latsko plans to open a farm-to-table café on Armitage Avenue in Lincoln Park. A Latsko venture leased 1,900 square feet of ground-floor space at 843 W. Armitage Ave. for Blue Door Farm Stand, said Gabriel Garza, president of a new affiliate of Mr. Latsko’s Chicago-based Structure Management Midwest LLC that is managing Mr. Latsko’s restaurant projects.

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20130228/CRED03/130229764/latsko-to-open-restaurant-in-lincoln-park

Coogles wrote:Kanela will be opening a second location on Wells street in the space Las Piñatas occupied for many, many years.

http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2013/ ... bruary.php

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

After trying to go there a few times since December with no luck, a friend finally did the legwork to confirm that Cinnamon Cafe on Lawrence at Damen has closed. There is a "for lease" sign up in the window. A darn shame. We loved this place for brunch. The Mexican-inspired food was always delicious and the chef was committed to using high-quality and fresh ingredients. People always complained about the diner-y decor leftover from when it was Ravenswood Grill, and the service was harried the last time we were there (it was the busiest we had ever seen it, with every table full), but we're gonna miss it anyway.

Cinnamon Cafe
1968 W. Lawrence Ave
(773) 769-9003

Cafecito on Wells is verrrry close to opening. The paper is off the storefront, the fixtures and finishes are in place, so it looks like "any day now" is really going to happen.

spinynorman99 wrote:Cafecito on Wells is verrrry close to opening. The paper is off the storefront, the fixtures and finishes are in place, so it looks like "any day now" is really going to happen.

Nice! I went to the other location not long ago. Having moved from Tampa where cuban food is on every corner, I thought it was actually pretty solid. I have yet to have amazing cuban bread here, but that's not the fault of the restaurant as very very few of the Cuban joints in Tampa bake their own bread, they all get it for 2 or 3 different bakeries around town. Looking forward to the new Cafecito, will definitely visit.

rvernsey wrote:

spinynorman99 wrote:Cafecito on Wells is verrrry close to opening. The paper is off the storefront, the fixtures and finishes are in place, so it looks like "any day now" is really going to happen.

Nice! I went to the other location not long ago. Having moved from Tampa where cuban food is on every corner, I thought it was actually pretty solid. I have yet to have amazing cuban bread here, but that's not the fault of the restaurant as very very few of the Cuban joints in Tampa bake their own bread, they all get it for 2 or 3 different bakeries around town. Looking forward to the new Cafecito, will definitely visit.

Welcome rvernsey! As a fellow Tampa transplant, I can tell you that you'll find a number of folks on here with ties to our home town. When you get a minute, be sure to check out the Tampa threads in Beyond Chicagoland--I'm guessing you probably have some intel to share that would be much appreciated.

Nice weather we're having huh? Still doesn't make me wish I lived anywhere else--but it IS nice having family there to visit, isn't it!

Hope to meet you at one of our events!

this could be interesting, if true. according to one of the construction workers i spoke with today, a very large, former industrial space with 2d floor apartments is being rehabbed into a butcher shop. this is at 2033 w. north avenue, practically under the blue line in wicker park.

dang ... I lived 2 blocks away for 16 years until this past July and there was never a decent local butcher.

Calabria Imports Closes Evergreen Park Location

Calabria Imports owner Pat Roberto said this week’s closing of the Evergreen Park location at 3512 W. 95th St. was not an easy decision but one that had to be made.

“It was starting to hurt the Beverly location,” he said. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out. I appreciate everything that was done for us by the mayor and customers.”

I thought I'd mention Central Standard, since I walk past it every day. It's opening looks imminent; Facebook says end of next week. They look like they have everything ready. The place looks gigantic and seems to have a ton of taps. I wonder where it'll fall foodwise between Moe's Cantina or Gilt Bar strip of Kinzie (literally and figuratively).

169 W Kinzie St
Chicago, IL
https://www.facebook.com/CentralStandardChicago

http://dailynorthwestern.com/2013/03/07 ... as-august/

According to the Daily Northwestern, Naf Naf Grill has filed an application with the City of Evanston to open a branch at 1629 Orrington, between Church & Davis Streets, possibly by August '13. There are some zoning and city committee hoops yet to jump through, but Naf Naf's co-founder, David Sloan, seems confident, reports the Daily Northwestern.

Rack House Kitchen and Tavern has opened in the former Arlington Heights Boston Blackie's.

All I can find is a Facebook page.

222 E Algonquin Road
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005
(847) 640-7225

Oh, I lied- there's an "Under Construction" website: http://www.rackhousetavern.com

It appears as though Japanese Bowl House is closed. I drove by yesterday and there was a big For Sale sign on the building. A recent Yelp review (from September '12) says it's closed.

1921 Algonquin Rd
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Does anyone know what's going on in the old Max & Erma's location at Rand Rd & Arlington Heights Rd? I was across the street from it the other day and couldn't read what the new sign said.

abe_froeman wrote:Does anyone know what's going on in the old Max & Erma's location at Rand Rd & Arlington Heights Rd? I was across the street from it the other day and couldn't read what the new sign said.

Honey Berry...a breakfast & lunch joint

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/2012 ... 712069869/

City News Cafe is open at 4018 N. Cicero. There's live music tonight, and according to the website, damn good brownies.
http://www.citynewsstand.com/

I didn't think this was big enough news to open a new thread, but Mr. Pie and I had the coffee here and it was very good—smooth and creamy (I had a latte). Apparently they grind the beans per order. And according to him, the brownies are indeed damn good.