Jim-Bob wrote:Boston Market is closing 10% of their restaurants.

I always thought their advertising tag line should be, "For a B.M.-eating grin!"

spinynorman99 wrote:In a weird bit of vertical integration Crate & Barrel is now in the restaurant business.

Not a first, not even in the Chicago area. Abt owns Jolane's Cafe next door.

Spotted today at 1639 Orrington in downtown Evanston:
Kokomo
shabu + korean + sake bar

nsxtasy wrote:Spotted today at 1639 Orrington in downtown Evanston:
Kokomo
shabu + korean + sake bar

20% of Dine in soft opening menu. Pictures of the menu are available via google:
https://www.google.com/search?q=kokomo+ ... e&ie=UTF-8

During dinner Tuesday one of the owners of Peppercorns Kitchen mentioned they opened up a new restaurant in Chinatown, Chef Xiong-Taste of Szechuan in the old Mandarin Kitchen space (2143 S Archer Ave), can't wait to check it out.

Owners of Carson’s Ribs plan return to Harwood Heights (Tribune)

On the fast food front: Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers is coming to Morton Grove (Dempster and Waukegan in new mixed use development which would include a Cooper's Hawk), Arlington Heights, and Schaumburg by next year. Still no update on them in Vernon Hills.

Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers opened their fourth Chicagoland location last month in Lake Zurich on US 12(Rand Rd).

Rockit Bar & Grill, a River North Revolutionary, to Close After 15 Years.

River North won’t be the same without Rockit Bar & Grill, the establishment that ignited a nightlife revolution 15 years ago along Hubbard Street. Last year co-founder Billy Dec departed, leaving co-founder Brad Young to run the downtown mainstay. Now Young and company are grounding Rockit, this time permanently, on Saturday.

Rockit’s been closed before, but Dec, Young, and Arturo Gomez have found a way to relaunch it into orbit. But with two-thirds of the original team gone, Young received an offer he couldn’t refuse. Young told Eater that he made the announcement in late June after talking to staff. He made a social made post on June 24 with the news that they were selling the property at 22 W. Hubbard Street to Friedman Properties.

https://chicago.eater.com/2019/7/9/2068 ... brad-young

Ram4 wrote:On the fast food front: Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers is coming to Morton Grove (Dempster and Waukegan in new mixed use development which would include a Cooper's Hawk), Arlington Heights, and Schaumburg by next year. Still no update on them in Vernon Hills.

Is that what's being built at Golf & Roosevelt, kitty-corner from Kuma's?

Jim-Bob wrote:Boston Market is closing 10% of their restaurants. I couldn't find a complete list of which ones closed, but it looks like the one in Aurora on 59 closed since it's no longer listed on its website. If you go there frequently, I would call there first to see if they're still open.
https://www.qsrmagazine.com/finance/bos ... sing-costs

"The restaurant chain closed locations in Lombard, Aurora, Skokie and Geneva. Boston Market employed about 80 workers at those locations."

Ram4 wrote:Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers opened their fourth Chicagoland location last month in Lake Zurich on US 12(Rand Rd).

Thanks for this heads-up. I looked up the address (1095 S Rand Rd, Lake Zurich, IL 60047) and the menu on the Freddys website. In addition to the usual items... cheese curds, patty melt, chili cheese dog? Looks like a fun stop.

abe_froeman wrote:

Ram4 wrote:On the fast food front: Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers is coming to Morton Grove (Dempster and Waukegan in new mixed use development which would include a Cooper's Hawk), Arlington Heights, and Schaumburg by next year. Still no update on them in Vernon Hills.

Is that what's being built at Golf & Roosevelt, kitty-corner from Kuma's?

The address is going to be 1205 East Higgins Rd near Meacham Rd.

Katie wrote:

Ram4 wrote:Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers opened their fourth Chicagoland location last month in Lake Zurich on US 12(Rand Rd).

Thanks for this heads-up. I looked up the address (1095 S Rand Rd, Lake Zurich, IL 60047) and the menu on the Freddys website. In addition to the usual items... cheese curds, patty melt, chili cheese dog? Looks like a fun stop.

The burgers and fries are virtually identical to Steak N Shake and Schoop's (super thin/smashed crispy edge burgers and shoestring fries). Their unique item is their Fry Sauce (they have two versions) for the fries (or anything else you want to dip - I put it on the burgers). They sell the fry sauce and their own seasoning salt. I don't think their custard is as good as Culver's. While they do serve Vienna Beef hot dogs (skinless), they put it on a strange toasted lobster roll type bun which I have not tried. I like this kind of place from time to time.

Kesey wrote:Pastabilities (Buffalo Grove) - closed after 26 years.
167 McHenry Road

Posted on their Facebook page today:

UPDATE. Thank you all for the nice emails and text messages. We really enjoyed serving you and your family for 26 years. We Might re-open sometime in Late August. Please be patient. I'm doing my best! Please don't leave voicemails on the Business phone line. I CAN NOT retrieve them. If you purchased a Gift Certificate. Please mail it to Pastabilities 167 McHenry rd Buffalo grove, Il 60089. Please include your name and return address. I will send you a check. There will be no refunds for Gift certificates that were given as a donation!. Thank you all for the enormous support. I will try and keep you informed as soon as I can. Sincerely Mark

Joy Yee restaurant on Ogden in Naperville closed by fire (Naperville Sun)

Marcello’s Father And Son Restaurant, Logan Square Staple For 72 Years, To Close.

LOGAN SQUARE — Marcello’s Father and Son Restaurant, a staple in Logan Square for 72 years, will serve its final customers on Sunday, a manager said Tuesday.

The manager, who declined to be named, told Block Club the owner, Billy Bauer, is struggling to keep up with building repairs. Bauer couldn’t be immediately reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

The manager of the Logan Square location told Block Club Father and Son’s last-remaining location in suburban Northbrook will remain open. The Lincoln Park location at 645 W. North Ave. closed in 2018

https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/07/09 ... -to-close/

B'el Bar + Kitchen closing by the end of the month.

The B’EL team is sad to announce we are closing up the restaurant at the end of the month. We wanted to reach out and let everyone know that we are putting together a few special events until then. We want to say a proper goodbye to all those who have supported us throughout the last two years.

We’ll be putting together a few small menus with our original chef, Matthew Bryks, so check out Facebook and Instagram to find out what and when!

I might be one of the only people on LTH to like them, but I'll spread the word nevertheless, that Piero's Pizza Wilmette will be closing in approximately 2 months. It should be a surprise to no one that the Wil-Ridge Plaza strip mall would be coming down. The village had approved a plan for a retirement/nursing facility run by Artis Senior Living about a year and a half ago. The property sale was later though.

I talked to the owner when picking up a few days ago. They tried to move across the street to the long vacant former 7/11 spot, but the Domino's pizza in the strip mall had a right to reject, which they obviously invoked.

I'll be going to Piero's til the end, but will then need to search. I plan to give Marco Roma in Winnetka a try, which ironically has coupons on the back of my latest Jewel receipt. If anybody has a firm opinion of them, chime in please.

Ram4 wrote:

abe_froeman wrote:

Ram4 wrote:On the fast food front: Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers is coming to Morton Grove (Dempster and Waukegan in new mixed use development which would include a Cooper's Hawk), Arlington Heights, and Schaumburg by next year. Still no update on them in Vernon Hills.

Is that what's being built at Golf & Roosevelt, kitty-corner from Kuma's?

The address is going to be 1205 East Higgins Rd near Meacham Rd.

That would be the parcel in front of the Target. Seems like an odd location for fast food. Though I'd guess the clutch of motels they built across the way must be a draw. The Golf road construction is for a Shake Shack if I understand the village newsletter correctly.

Ram4 wrote:

abe_froeman wrote:

Ram4 wrote:On the fast food front: Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers is coming to Morton Grove (Dempster and Waukegan in new mixed use development which would include a Cooper's Hawk), Arlington Heights, and Schaumburg by next year. Still no update on them in Vernon Hills.

Is that what's being built at Golf & Roosevelt, kitty-corner from Kuma's?

The address is going to be 1205 East Higgins Rd near Meacham Rd.

Hmm, so I wonder what is going on kitty-corner from Kuma's then...

Saw a sign for Sweet Basil Cafe opening soon at the site of the former Jason's Deli in Palatine, on Rand, near Dundee. Research resulted in this.

Bobby Nelson’s Cheese and Sausage shop has a sign on the door and has sent out letters that they are closing on July 31st.

JoelF wrote:

diversedancer wrote:Via Roma, formerly on Lee street in Des plaines, is now at 464 E. Northwest Hwy, Des Plaines

That's a curious choice, for a relatively out-of-the-way part of Des Plaines, although it'll get traffic and visibility from commuters. With prime spots such as the former Leona's o Miner in downtown Des Plaines vacant, price must be a factor.
The block that Via Roma was on previously is being torn down for 7 stories of condos. There's expected to be first-floor retail so I would expect new restaurants.

I was surprised to see such a restaurant there at a "strange" location too.
Maybe it's temporary location and they're planning to move back to Lee street, and the "better" locations wanted a long term lease?

nsxtasy wrote:

spinynorman99 wrote:In a weird bit of vertical integration Crate & Barrel is now in the restaurant business.

Not a first, not even in the Chicago area. Abt owns Jolane's Cafe next door.

Anyone remember the Wag's diner chain operated by Walgreen's?

"Frunchroom, 4042 N. Milwaukee Ave. first opened its doors in April 2018. Now, it's closing."

https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/07/11 ... s-closing/

Drover wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:

spinynorman99 wrote:In a weird bit of vertical integration Crate & Barrel is now in the restaurant business.

Not a first, not even in the Chicago area. Abt owns Jolane's Cafe next door.

Anyone remember the Wag's diner chain operated by Walgreen's?

Walgreen's had soda fountains/lunch counters (some more notorious than others), so stand-alone diners weren't a huge stretch.

spinynorman99 wrote:In a weird bit of vertical integration Crate & Barrel is now in the restaurant business.

https://www.tableatcrate.com/

Didn't the North Ave C&B used to have a cafe?
Looks like Bill Kim is doing Table at Crate, so that's a plus.

spinynorman99 wrote:Walgreen's had soda fountains/lunch counters (some more notorious than others), so stand-alone diners weren't a huge stretch.

But too far a stretch nonetheless if their relatively short lifespan is any indication.

Red Apple in Avondale is no more. Was just thinking about visiting but will have to trek a little further up Milwaukee now.

https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/07/15 ... -building/

spinynorman99 wrote:Walgreen's had soda fountains/lunch counters (some more notorious than others), so stand-alone diners weren't a huge stretch.

IIRC,I think Walgreens had a cafeteria at their State & Randolph store sometime in the 60's.

According to South Side Weekly (https://southsideweekly.com/a-sad-farewell-notes/), confirmed by my own visit last weekend, the Homestyle Taste has closed, probably around May, 2019. The reason is not clear but the article said that it might be associated with rent, which is understandable since the Halsted in Bridgeport has become a popular locale for many, especially Chinese, restaurants. It's so sad that Homestyle Taste became a victim of "boom" that it definitely had contributed to.

We visited another Dongbei restaurant on the street of which menu and staffs imply some connection to Homestyle Taste. Food was not bad, but I will obviously miss the homey feeling of Homestyle Taste.