Openings, Closings, Comings & Goings, July - September 2014

Please post all related news on this thread.

For last quarter's Openings and Closings, please visit this thread:

Openings, Closings, Comings & Goings, April - June 2014

Please, remember, that per our Posting Guidelines, posts pertaining to health code-related issues are not permitted here unless they include a link to a credible, third-party source.

Thanks,

=R=
for the Moderators

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

Does anybody know if GoRoma at 848 N State (State & Chestnut) closed? There has been paper over every window there since Saturday or Sunday at least, and the location isn't listed on their website anymore when you click on "Locations."

Eater is reporting that Little Market Brasserie (10 E Delaware - ~Delaware & State) is now Mercadito Fish. It is already softly opened and will have American seafood classics like crabcakes, chowder, fried shrimp, lobster rolls, fish and chips, and it will also have a raw seafood bar for oysters, clams, and shrimp.


Mercadito Fish
10 E Delaware St

There's a new bakery on Western, GBD Cakes and Sweets. They sell mostly cupcakes with a couple of other baked goods (cheesecake balls, chocolate covered strawberries, cookies). The cupcakes have rotating flavors, many with a Mexican twist that you don't usually see like dulce de leche, flan and horchata. I tried a few different kinds and they were all great. I appreciated that the cake wasn't overly sweet. My favorite was Birthday Cake which had a filling of fresh strawberries. They also design really artistic cakes - which I saw from their facebook page, there weren't any out at the shop.

GBD Cakes and Sweets
2039 N. Western
(312) 401-7065
http://www.gbdcakes.com/

New restaurant from Myron & Phil family coming to Niles.

The Wildwood Tavern is planned for the building formerly occupied by Christopher’s Off the Bone restaurant. The new venue will be both a restaurant and a tavern, featuring classic American-style food and an extensive selection of craft beers.

Owner Mark Freedman hopes to open the restaurant by Sept. 15, but it may be delayed depending on financing.

Freedman, currently of Chicago’s Edgebrook neighborhood, is no stranger to restaurant business. He worked for years with his father, Myron Freedman, at iconic Lincolnwood steakhouse Myron & Phil.

http://skokie.suntimes.com/2014/07/01/n ... ing-niles/

Passing by the other day I saw that somewhat-recently shuttered Trouquet at the corner of Montrose & Wolcott in Chicago will be reopening as Mangal Bar & Grille, and are currently hiring.

Mangal Bar & Grille
1834 W Montrose Ave,
Chicago, IL 60613

Acclaimed Chicago chef Roland Liccioni and the restaurant unit of a fast-growing foodservice company are teaming up on a French spot in a forthcoming downtown hotel.

WellDone Hospitality Inc., part of Chicago-based OrganicLife LLC, signed a lease to open a brasserie called Cochon Volant — French for flying pig — in a 6,000-square-foot space in the 257-room Hyatt hotel under construction in the vintage office building at 100 W. Monroe St., said OrganicLife CEO Jonas Falk.

Mr. Liccioni, who built a name for himself at Le Français in Wheeling and now runs Les Nomades in Streeterville, will oversee the kitchen, Mr. Falk said.

The restaurant will open in a corner space at Monroe and Clark streets, he said, offering all-day breakfast with French specialties like croissants and, in the evening, Mr. Liccioni's interpretation of dinner classics like steak frites. There will be about 180 seats, plus an outdoor seating area.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... t-in-loop#

Per their website, Facebook and Yelp, Aodake Asian Bistro is now open at the corner of Clark and Leland in Uptown, in the former Blue Ocean space. Right now they claim to be open 7 days a week 6:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Seems pretty ambitious; we'll see if that schedule sticks. Grand opening is scheduled for July 30.

Aodake Asian Bistro
4650-4652 N. Clark St.
773-271-9889
http://www.aodake.com/

French specialties like croissants

Guh-haw-leee!

Crumbs is closing all stores
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/inc-wel ... FB_CHBrand

Yes gang, the property at Bertucci's [in Highwood] is finally sold! It was bought by Bill and Kathy Barush, Kathy being of the the Eric and Kathy show on 101.9!! They plan on putting a music venue with pub style food! We wish them well!

The location of the former El Primo at 3500 West Montrose has a hand lettered coming soon sign: El Tacontento.

Glen's Diner is opening up in the Lakeview neighborhood at 1258 Belmont. This is the space formally occupied by La Gondola Cucina Italiana and Joey's Brickhouse.

stevelip wrote:Glen's Diner is opening up in the Lakeview neighborhood at 1258 Belmont. This is the space formally occupied by La Gondola Cucina Italiana and Joey's Brickhouse.

Pretty sure it won't be called Glenn's Diner, but anyway, here's more info: http://www.chicagomag.com/dining-drinki ... Fahlstrom/

The short lived Big Twist on Howard St. in Evanston has been replaced by a new location of El Pueblito Mexican Grill. I may well stop by for huevos rancheros on Sunday for brunch as a test drive. Big plus: a good-sized dedicated parking lot.

Bulletins as events warrant.

El Pueblito #2 Mexican Grill
1805 Howard St (Between California/Dodge and Western Ave./Asbury)
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 328-4611

Hours:
Mon - Thurs 9:00 am - 12:00 am
Fri - Sat 9:00 am - 1:00 am
Sun 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

sundevilpeg wrote:
El Pueblito #2 Mexican Grill
1805 Howard St (Between California/Dodge and Western Ave./Asbury)
Evanston, IL 60202
(

Or in LTH speak: Across the street from Gulliver's.

The Last Pit Stop Barbecue has opened at 1964 W. Lawrence, with Calvin Woods (Smokin' Woody's and Calvin's BBQ) apparently manning the smoker. Details here: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140709 ... n-lawrence

Cathy2 wrote:

Yes gang, the property at Bertucci's [in Highwood] is finally sold! It was bought by Bill and Kathy Barush, Kathy being of the the Eric and Kathy show on 101.9!! They plan on putting a music venue with pub style food! We wish them well!

Nice to see this property getting a new tenant. Hopefully it will be a lot better than Bertucci's was.

Didn't see it mentioned,

The shuttered Ohio House will soon become an outpost of Leghorn (Western & Augusta). The sign
in the window says they will also be serving Breakfast made from scratch. Late summer opening

not sure if this was mentioned but the former restaurant @ 9434 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077 (Hana Asian Bistro) is now another satellite location for the Lao Sze Chuan empire.

Lao Sze Chuan
9434 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lao-sze-chuan-skokie-3

polster wrote:not sure if this was mentioned but the former restaurant @ 9434 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077 (Hana Asian Bistro) is now another satellite location for the Lao Sze Chuan empire.

Lao Sze Chuan
9434 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lao-sze-chuan-skokie-3

This prompts me to mention that it seems like a year now (and may even be a year) that 520 N. Michigan Ave. has had blacked-out windows promising a Lao Sze Chuan location.

Pie Lady wrote:Crumbs is closing all stores
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/inc-wel ... FB_CHBrand

It appears that they are being pulled out of the fire by Reality TV personality Marcus Lemonis of The Profit. Per Andy Dehnart at RealityBlurred.com . . .

The Profit star Marcus Lemonis is buying Crumbs Bake Shop, the cupcake store that closed its stores Monday night. The store has fans, like the person who bought a “last” cupcake for $255, but it had been suffering financially recently.

=R=

I'm not 100% sure if this will be open by September - it appears so, but a new lounge/night club is opening up in the former Elbo Room space on Division near State. Looks more upscale than the former for sure.

http://www.room7chicago.com

Whilst on a paleta crawl with Albany Park Neighbors yesterday evening, several of us noted that Zuzu Wraps at 3200 W Lawrence has suddenly been replaced with signs proclaiming "K&L Corner" instead. The food hasn't changed that I know of, just the signs.

The Red Lion is bacK!

2446 N. Lincoln

Opening some time this week (accounts differ).

Looking good:

http://www.chicago.eater.com/archives/2014/07/14/red-lion-pub-new-lincoln-park-inside.php

Marshall K wrote:Didn't see it mentioned,

The shuttered Ohio House will soon become an outpost of Leghorn (Western & Augusta). The sign
in the window says they will also be serving Breakfast made from scratch. Late summer opening

This is terrific.

Yet another Lao Sze Chuan? Yes, in Skokie.
As reported in Crain's:

Crain's Chicago Business wrote:Tony Hu has opened another Lao Sze Chuan, this one in Skokie, the 10th restaurant in his growing empire. The restaurant, which opened July 13, is still in soft-opening mode, Mr. Hu said, while he installs new lighting and other decorative touches in what was Hana Asian Bistro at 9434 Skokie Blvd.

Following on the success of his Lao restaurant in Evanston, which opened in March, Mr. Hu's Tony Gourmet Group decided on Skokie in part because his chef lives in the northern suburb. "My customers always say, 'Tony, come to Skokie!' " Mr. Hu said.

The location is just south of Golf

The article goes on to say that the Michigan Avenue outpost is set for a September 1 opening.

Oh, and 'Tony, come to Mount Prospect!'

Vapiano on Clark & Wrightwood is shuttered.

We really liked Hana - pan-Asian with emphasis on Chinese. I haven't tried any of the Lao Sze Chuan's yet...