I went into the dreary basement food court at Madison and Clark yesterday to get something from Banh Mi Express, and they're gone. The space has been covered with drywall. If I'd had time I would have gone up another block to the Ba Le outpost on Washington, but instead I headed south on Clark toward the office and happened to spot the 5411 Empanadas truck next to the Loop Station post office. So it wasn't a completely wasted trip.

FWIW, I didn't see any sign of the Jaffa Bakery/Bagel place down there either. Only Dunkin Donuts is left.

Pie Lady wrote:Indeed. But I'm pretty sure this was the original, yes? It was the one I always went to, anyway.

No, Ann Sather opened her restaurant on Belmont, not far from its current location, in the mid-1940s. For years it was known as The Swedish Diner, even though Ms Sather was Norwegian. The Andersonville location didn't open until 1987, five or six years after Ann Sather sold the business to Tom Tunney and retired. Before that it was Villa Sweden.

Tambreet wrote:

Ursiform wrote:Anne Sather's in Andersonville closing at the end of the year, according to DNA Chicago http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130814 ... g-december

Man, the food trucks are taking their toll on brick-and-mortar restaurants even faster than expected!

Hi,

I read the article waiting for a comment related to food trucks affecting Ann Sathers and didn't see one. Was this your opinion or something which was expressed elsewhere?

In Des Moines, Iowa over the weekend for the State Fair, one of judges commented about food trucks there were putting a dent on brick-and-mortar restaurants lunch businesses there.

Regards,

Pie Lady wrote:Indeed. But I'm pretty sure this was the original, yes? It was the one I always went to, anyway.

The original is the Belmont Avenue restaurant. I ate there with my family growing up, in the 1960s, long before Tunney bought the place. It was a favorite of ours. I loved the cold fruit soup.

Edited to add: Didn't see Rene G's well-documented correction before posting my recollection.

EvA wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:Indeed. But I'm pretty sure this was the original, yes? It was the one I always went to, anyway.

The original is the Belmont Avenue restaurant. I ate there with my family growing up, in the 1960s, long before Tunney bought the place. It was a favorite of ours. I loved the cold fruit soup.

Edited to add: Didn't see Rene G's well-documented correction before posting my recollection.

As Rene mentioned, the current Belmont location (909 W.) is not the original (which was 929 W.). Tunney opened the Belmont location (which was previously a funeral home) after the Andersonville location.

Cathy2 wrote:

Tambreet wrote:

Ursiform wrote:Anne Sather's in Andersonville closing at the end of the year, according to DNA Chicago http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130814 ... g-december

Man, the food trucks are taking their toll on brick-and-mortar restaurants even faster than expected!

Hi,

I read the article waiting for a comment related to food trucks affecting Ann Sathers and didn't see one. Was this your opinion or something which was expressed elsewhere?

I'm not sure about food trucks, but this sounds like a real estate deal and as a result, the restaurant will close. I don't think they are hurting for business.

For a walk down memory lane, here's a thread on when this location of Ann Sather's closed before Tunney took it over. There was some drama back in the day.

spinynorman99 wrote:As Rene mentioned, the current Belmont location (909 W.) is not the original (which was 929 W.). Tunney opened the Belmont location (which was previously a funeral home) after the Andersonville location.

Around 1945 Ann Sather bought an existing restaurant (Johansenn's) on the then-Scandinavian stretch of Belmont sometimes referred to as "Herring Row." Through the 1950s Ann Sather's was located at 935 W Belmont and went by the name The Swedish Diner. By 1960 it had moved to 925 W Belmont and became officially known as Ann Sather's. In 1981 Ms Sather sold the business to Tom Tunney and retired. Four years later, Tunney expanded next door into an old funeral home (929 W Belmont), increasing the seating capacity fourfold. A couple years later, in 1987, Tunney opened a second Ann Sather's, taking over the old Villa Sweden space in Andersonville. The Belmont location moved to 909 W about five or six years ago.

Rene G wrote:

spinynorman99 wrote:As Rene mentioned, the current Belmont location (909 W.) is not the original (which was 929 W.). Tunney opened the Belmont location (which was previously a funeral home) after the Andersonville location.

Around 1945 Ann Sather bought an existing restaurant (Johansenn's) on the then-Scandinavian stretch of Belmont sometimes referred to as "Herring Row." Through the 1950s Ann Sather's was located at 935 W Belmont and went by the name The Swedish Diner. By 1960 it had moved to 925 W Belmont and became officially known as Ann Sather's. In 1981 Ms Sather sold the business to Tom Tunney and retired. Four years later, Tunney expanded next door into an old funeral home (929 W Belmont), increasing the seating capacity fourfold. A couple years later, in 1987, Tunney opened a second Ann Sather's, taking over the old Villa Sweden space in Andersonville. The Belmont location moved to 909 W about five or six years ago.

My bad. My point was that the building now is not the building then.

Four new food trucks are hitting the streets of Chicago, and one of them is equipped with a barbecue smoker.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130816/BLOGS09/130819853/four-new-food-trucks-hit-chicago-streets

I noted that long-vacant Barnum & Bagel on Dempster & Skokie Valley Rd. in Skokie is now "under contract." NO idea as to what's going in, or if the building is being leveled for something brand new; many of the parcels on that stretch of Dempster are undergoing that metamorphosis.

Bulletins as events warrant.

Hi- I don't know how true it is, but somebody told me that the owner of another restaurant in Skokie considered relocating to where Barnum and Bagel was, and could not come to an agreement on price with the seller. I was told that the seller was asking way too much for that property. This was before they drastically reduced the price. I am curious to find out what is going in there. That building has been vacant for at least two years. There are a ton of vacant storefronts on that section of Dempster though. I have a friend that lives in that neighborhood. Next time I see her I will ask her if she knows anything. Thanks, Nancy

That building has been vacant for at least two years.

Way, way longer than that - B&B closed way back in 2007 (!).

NFriday wrote:Hi- I don't know how true it is, but somebody told me that the owner of another restaurant in Skokie considered relocating to where Barnum and Bagel was, and could not come to an agreement on price with the seller. I was told that the seller was asking way too much for that property. This was before they drastically reduced the price. I am curious to find out what is going in there. That building has been vacant for at least two years. There are a ton of vacant storefronts on that section of Dempster though. I have a friend that lives in that neighborhood. Next time I see her I will ask her if she knows anything. Thanks, Nancy

Kaufman's was considering relocating to that property after the fire.

sundevilpeg wrote:I noted that long-vacant Barnum & Bagel on Dempster & Skokie Valley Rd. in Skokie is now "under contract." NO idea as to what's going in, or if the building is being leveled for something brand new; many of the parcels on that stretch of Dempster are undergoing that metamorphosis.

Bulletins as events warrant.

My mother heard from someone several months ago that a healthcare facility will be going there. I believe the source was one of the village trustees.

Cathy2 wrote:

Tambreet wrote:

Ursiform wrote:Anne Sather's in Andersonville closing at the end of the year, according to DNA Chicago http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130814 ... g-december

Man, the food trucks are taking their toll on brick-and-mortar restaurants even faster than expected!

Hi,

I read the article waiting for a comment related to food trucks affecting Ann Sathers and didn't see one. Was this your opinion or something which was expressed elsewhere?

In Des Moines, Iowa over the weekend for the State Fair, one of judges commented about food trucks there were putting a dent on brick-and-mortar restaurants lunch businesses there.

Regards,

I think this was a dig at Tom Tunney's well-documented opposition to food trucks.

West Town Tavern space is for sale

http://www.loopnet.com/xnet/mainsite/li ... t006a00001

Unite Urban Grill opening October 1st in Leopold's old space

http://chicago.eater.com/tags/unite-urban-grill

The Avondale outpost of Mr. Pollo has completed its move down the block, and now filling the old space is a generic-looking joint called Brother's.


Brother's
3000 W Belmont


Mr. Pollo
3026 W Belmont
773-509-1208

Tanta, 118 W. Grand, is finally open and it's pretty darn good. Had a really nice meal over the weekend. Ceviches, as always (based on his other restaurants), were excellent.

A multistory restaurant project is headed for Streeterville. A former Northern Trust Bank building on St. Clair and Erie streets will be converted into two restaurants, according to Eater Chicago. The 9,200-square-foot project helmed by Dan Rosenthal of Harry Caray's and Poag Mahone's fame will house a Sopraffina and a new, unnamed spot. Mr. Rosenthal is in the process of recruiting a high-profile local chef and a nationally acclaimed mixologist for other restaurants in the building.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... n-randolph

Has anybody been to Las Fresas in the 7000(?) block of north Clark? I just noticed it yesterday. It looked really cool, but it was totally packed, and I had a couple of armloads of groceries in tow. By the pictures in the window, it appears to be a Mexican dessert shop that specializes in fruit salads, ice cream sundaes, chocolate dipped fruit, yogurt parfaits, liquados, strawberries with cream, pastries and other sweet treats. I plan on stopping there on my way home some time this week, but I was hoping somebody else has cased the joint already.

Some exciting news: River Valley Ranch & Kitchens, which you are probably familiar with for their terrific mushrooms sold at area farmers' markets, including the Green City Market, will be opening up a restaurant and retail store in the old City Provisions space at 1818 W. Wilson (apparently to be called River Valley Kitchens and Market. Here are some more details.

Closing: Swad of India in Buffalo Grove.

That place was only open for a little over a year.

Has anyone heard when the Lao Sze Chuan in Evanston will be opening?

bw77 wrote:Has anyone heard when the Lao Sze Chuan in Evanston will be opening?

Discussed above starting around post #108.

Thanks. I was just wondering if anyone had heard whether LSC is still planning to open in August or if there is a specific date set. Hoping that they will be delivering from this location.

Hi- I live in Evanston, and I walked past the LSC about a week and a half ago, and it looked like they were almost ready, but the sign still said open in August. They moved into the location where Pomegranite used to be, and so they do not have to do any gutting out. Naf Naf, which is two doors down, is nowhere ready to move into. They are moving into the original Border's location, and the whole place had to be gutted out. Hope this helps, Nancy

I understand the Vapiano's at Wabash and Monroe has opened. It's steps from my office, but I'm currently out of town. Anyone tried it out?

Thanks, Nancy.

Via Mare 7601 W Addison. Phone disconnected, Website down, and for rent signs in the window. Drove by twice just to make sure.

Crazy Calabrese in the location of the old Caponies finally opened yesterday. Pizza was pretty pretty good.

http://www.crazycalabrese.com/

What happened to Everest Burger up on Green Bay rd in Glencoe? Tried to go yesterday but everything inside is gone, no sign or anything.