According to the Southtown Star an Uncle Julios is opening in the Harrisons brew pub space, 158th and LaGrange in Orland Park. The article stated that the owners of Harrisons are leasing the space and it is expected to be open in July.

Ahjoomah's Apron Brings Korean Cuisine to Chinatown

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130307 ... -chinatown

justjoan wrote: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.

looks like it might be a deli/bar/venue

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130311 ... ody-garage

ziggy wrote:

justjoan wrote: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.

looks like it might be a deli/bar/venue

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130311 ... ody-garage

i'm not surprised the construction workers mistook 'chop shop' for a possible butcher shop. but this is disappointing news for me. the last thing wicker park needs is another place for people to drink....

Tapas Las Ramblas in a location of the damned in Andersonville (northeast corner of Clark and Carmen) appears to be closed. Sign in the door directing customers to check out a different tapas place (Twist a Tapas on Sheffield if I recall) and mail piling up behind the front door. Phone number is disconnected. Seems like they were doing a good business and food was decent, but didn't survive.

Tapas Las Ramblas
5101 N Clark

http://www.edgevillebuzz.com/news/tapas ... d-for-good

Pita Inn will be opening up a new location in Mundelein on March 17.

200 Oak Creek Plaza
Mundelein, IL 60060
Phone: (847) 566-8888

Menalon restaurant in Lake Zurich looks closed. There are large "Available" banners on both sides of the building and the phone number has been disconnected.

I 'spect this will be a zoo of epic proportions...if the past is any indication of future results.

Here is a press release from the Grayslake/Libertyville/Mundelein/Vernon Hills (GMLV) Chamber of Commerce:


FREE FOOD MARCH 16th: Pita Inn Mundelein- Saturday, March 16, 2013

Pita Inn Restaurant celebrates its 31st anniversary with the GRAND OPENING of PITA INN MUNDELEIN by serving FREE FOOD ALL DAY on SATURDAY, MARCH 16

WHAT: Grand Opening PITA INN MUNDELEIN: FREE FOOD
WHEN: Saturday, March 16, 2013 – All Day (11 am – 9 pm)
WHERE: Pita Inn Mundelein, 200 Oak Creek Plaza, Mundelein,
CONTACT:
Hazem Tabahi, Pita Inn, Vice President, office: 847.675.0025, hazem2679@yahoo.com
Suhad Tabahi, Pita Inn, General Manager/Human Relations, cell: 312.914.5585, suhadtabahi@gmail.com


(Mundelein, IL, 03/15/13) – In keeping with the rich tradition of serving the finest Mediterranean cuisine in the Chicagoland area, Pita Inn Mundelein will open on Saturday, March 16, 2013. Celebrating the Grand Opening of Pita Inn Mundelein and 31st anniversary of being in business, Falah Tabahi, owner of Pita Inn Restaurants Inc., is inviting everyone to celebrate this occasion by enjoying a Complimentary Combination Sampler Platter with Dessert and a Drink from 11am – 9pm, first come first served, DINE IN ONLY and one per customer at 200 Oak Creek Plaza. “I want everyone to be able to try and enjoy our food at absolutely no cost, so everyone should come with a big appetite” passionately states Falah Tabahi. This generous, open to the public invitation is a dual celebration for Pita Inn, as this marks the establishment of Pita Inn’s 4th location, Pita Inn Mundelein, and the 31st anniversary of Pita Inn as Pita Inn’s first location was opened on this same day in Skokie in 1982.

The much anticipated opening of Pita Inn Mundelein has created hype amongst loyal Pita Inn customers and residents of Mundelein and neighboring cities. “My family and I have been going to Pita Inn Wheeling and Glenview for years and now finally Pita Inn Mundelein is opening just one mile away from my home, so we are really excited” said one enthusiastic, loyal customer while dining at Pita Inn Glenview. “Me and my co-workers pass Route 60 every day and look for the ‘open’ sign. We can’t wait to have a quick, healthy alternative to fast food in our neighborhood” added a customer waiting in line for lunch at Pita Inn Wheeling.

Pita Inn Mundelein will follow in the footsteps of Pita Inn Skokie, Glenview and Wheeling, but will provide additional seating and parking. “This will be our largest and most accommodating restaurant to date, and we will continue to maintain the quality and consistency that we have established at our other three locations” said Falah Tabahi. “We are also proud to be celebrating our 31st anniversary of being in business and we will continue to grow and serve people high quality, healthy food at unbeatable prices.”

Top village officials and close family and friends are invited to a private Grand Opening party and red ribbon cutting ceremony by the Mayor of Mundelein and Chamber of Commerce on Friday, March 15. Normal business operation and hours will be on Sunday, March 17.
----------
Since 1982, Pita Inn Restaurants provides "Great Tasting, Healthy Food and Excellent Service
at Unbeatable Prices!"

Pita Inn Restaurants, Inc.
3924 W. Dempster Street
Skokie, IL 60076
847.675.0025
http://www.pitainn.com

stevez wrote:

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.

At Cicero and Pratt there is a Marathon station that now has a tiny Dunk outpost inside. In the window, there is a red sign with the same white block lettering that advertises Fresh Donuts at Devon & Central. So I wonder now if the sign at Devon & Central is just there to tell people what type of business coming—Dunk does sell more than just donuts—not advertising an actual name. I hope I'm wrong, because that would make three places to get Dunkin' Donuts within walking distance.

Facebook tells us that The Dog's Bollox, in the former Beckett's space, opens Thursday; comments there tell us it's already soft open.

I... I just can't get behind the name. I get that in the UK it refers to something great. However, in my head it will always refer to something man's best friend loses in a Very Special Trip to the Vet.

The Dog's Bollox
3210 N. Lincoln Ave.
(773) 880-9620

New cafe and coffee roaster slated to open in Evanston in March or April 2013. Cafe will be located at 1620 Orrington; coffee roaster at 2000 Greenleaf.

"La Macchina will serve Italian pastries, coffee and espresso drinks, as well as Italian small plates, including meats, cheeses and wines from Italy. He and Ferrarini plan to use recipes from Ferrarini’s grandmother, including recipes for homemade butternut squash tortellini and homemade tiramisu." 

http://evanston.patch.com/articles/new- ... o-evanston

justjoan wrote:

ziggy wrote:

justjoan wrote: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.

looks like it might be a deli/bar/venue

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130311 ... ody-garage

i'm not surprised the construction workers mistook 'chop shop' for a possible butcher shop. but this is disappointing news for me. the last thing wicker park needs is another place for people to drink....

Looks like it'll be all of the above...

http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2013/ ... t.php#more

From Chicago Magazine's Dish newsletter:

"Thursday, 3/14: Edgewater’s newest Mexican restaurant, Más Allá del Sol (5848 N. Broadway, 773-654-1900), comes from Adan and Mirella Moreno, the owners of family-run Los Nopales in Lincoln Square."

BR wrote:From Chicago Magazine's Dish newsletter:

"Thursday, 3/14: Edgewater’s newest Mexican restaurant, Más Allá del Sol (5848 N. Broadway, 773-654-1900), comes from Adan and Mirella Moreno, the owners of family-run Los Nopales in Lincoln Square."

Hopefully the new space doesn't include an enormous back room full of crazed 21 (yeah right) year old bachelorettes like their original location. I think that may have been one of my most uncomfortable dining experiences ever. It was certainly the only time I've actually considered walking out of a restaurant without eating my meal. UGH.

Hi- What happened to Casteel and Company? They were supposed to relocate to a larger location on Central in Evanston.. Did they decide not to go through with it?

Morrie O'Malley's in Bridgeport is open again for the season. Caveat - they've been known to open and close sporadically during the off-season.

NFriday wrote:Hi- What happened to Casteel and Company? They were supposed to relocate to a larger location on Central in Evanston.. Did they decide not to go through with it?

The company is called Casteel Coffee. Casteel and Company is a different business.

http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/ ... cation.php

And the story on Eater (Darren's link) is the only one I could find about the possible reopening. I can only conclude that they haven't reopened, and either decided not to do so, or else are quite some time away from doing so. Given that a full year has passed since that story, the chances of the latter aren't good.

nsxtasy wrote:And the story on Eater (Darren's link) is the only one I could find about the possible reopening. I can only conclude that they haven't reopened, and either decided not to do so, or else are quite some time away from doing so. Given that a full year has passed since that story, the chances of the latter aren't good.

Found this story that confirms they are gone for good.
http://evanston.patch.com/articles/casteel-coffee-goes-out-of-business

Jasubar wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:And the story on Eater (Darren's link) is the only one I could find about the possible reopening. I can only conclude that they haven't reopened, and either decided not to do so, or else are quite some time away from doing so. Given that a full year has passed since that story, the chances of the latter aren't good.

Found this story that confirms they are gone for good.
http://evanston.patch.com/articles/casteel-coffee-goes-out-of-business

This story is from January, 2012. The Eater article that says they are re-opening is from February 2012.

Jasubar wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:And the story on Eater (Darren's link) is the only one I could find about the possible reopening. I can only conclude that they haven't reopened, and either decided not to do so, or else are quite some time away from doing so. Given that a full year has passed since that story, the chances of the latter aren't good.

Found this story that confirms they are gone for good.
http://evanston.patch.com/articles/casteel-coffee-goes-out-of-business

Not exactly. In January 2012, they closed the original store, as was widely reported, in that article and elsewhere. However, the following month - February 2012 - the story from Eater updated the situation, and indicated that they were looking for another location to re-open. So presumably in February 2012 they were planning to reopen, but nothing has been heard since. It's still not clear whether or not they still plan to do so.

I heard Sistah's is wither closed or moving. Anyone have more info?

http://www.happycow.net/m/m_reviews.php?id=23656

https://www.facebook.com/VeganChicago/p ... 9690447886

The folks from Bleeding Heart Bakery are back, opening a new spot in Pilsen by the end of March:

http://www.luchadulce.com/

Panther in the Den wrote: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.

Cuzzo's is opened. Haven't stopped by yet. Looks a lot like Nick's from what I could see from the street.

Panther in the Den wrote: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!

I am convinced the Sheena's sign was an old one under the OPD sign (now gone). Drove by a few times and it was been dark.

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.

Cafecito is open, as of this past Friday!

Coming soon, at 13th and Michigan, Nepal House. http://www.nepalhouseonline.com/

Promising.

not open yet, but signs posted:

Hannah's Bretzel on Clinton between Union and Ogilvy

Pret a Manger on the river between Union and Ogilvy

They also just put up signs for a Freshii on the SW corner of Kinzie and LaSalle. And there's an Epic Burger open now on Clark just north of Kinzie.

A couple reports from Lakeview Patch:
Va Sua is a French Vietnamese place opening in the space that formerly housed Erwin (2925 N. Halsted St.). Slated to open Friday, March 22.

A tavern/late night eatery called Bullpen will open near the Addison Red Line station sometime this spring.

And a place called City Dough is going into the spot at 2955 N. Sheffield Ave. where Pompei used to be.

Re Va Sua:

“Everyone knows Vietnamese food is not very high end,” Chan said. “You can pick it up anywhere—take it out. But this will be about 80 percent Vietnamese and 20 percent French, with the presentation being more French, and us including more cream and those elements.”

"Everyone knows?" Did anyone tell Pasteur and Le Colonial? I hope Va Sua proves an asset to the neighborhood, but this quote from the head-chef/owner starts them off on the wrong foot, IMO.

When the 3,000-square-foot restaurant opens on Friday, Chan says they’ll just be serving dinners between 5-11 p.m. and will be BYOB. Later, when Vu Sua’s liquor license is approved, it’ll have a full bar until 1 p.m., dishing up late-night bar food after 11 p.m.

Full bar until 1 p.m.! Drink up at lunch, guys!

riddlemay wrote:Re Va Sua:

“Everyone knows Vietnamese food is not very high end,” Chan said. “You can pick it up anywhere—take it out. But this will be about 80 percent Vietnamese and 20 percent French, with the presentation being more French, and us including more cream and those elements.”

"Everyone knows?" Did anyone tell Pasteur and Le Colonial? I hope Va Sua proves an asset to the neighborhood, but this quote from the head-chef/owner starts them off on the wrong foot, IMO.

When the 3,000-square-foot restaurant opens on Friday, Chan says they’ll just be serving dinners between 5-11 p.m. and will be BYOB. Later, when Vu Sua’s liquor license is approved, it’ll have a full bar until 1 p.m., dishing up late-night bar food after 11 p.m.

Full bar until 1 p.m.! Drink up at lunch, guys!

In fairness, when he says it's not high end, he's talking about the cuisine, and not the Chicago Vietnamese food scene (and in some ways you can throw Embeya into the Pasteur/Le Colonial mix, although they probably stray the farthest from traditional Vietnamese, from what I understand).

Also, I'm guessing the 1pm bar issue is a typo, so let's not go crazy here.