Flatearth (formerly going to be named Organic Oven Works)

According to Chicago Magazine's latest "Dish" e-mail, Michael Altenberg (Bistro Campagne) is planning to open a 200 seat, organic pizzeria with a wood oven at the corner of Lincoln and Lawrence in June. After the somewhat recent closings of Charlies on Leavitt and Acqualina, it was nice to hear news of an intriguing new entry to Lincoln Square.

It would be a double bonus if this new presence resulted in Pizza DOC jumpstarting their game back to previous levels. Competition can be a great thing and this place is going to be a stone's throw away. I'm trying to figure out what 200 seat location around there they could be occupying; I'll have to take a walk around this weekend.

Kman wrote:I'm trying to figure out what 200 seat location around there they could be occupying; I'll have to take a walk around this weekend.

The former GP Franklin spot came to mind, but I'm not sure.

BR wrote:

Kman wrote:I'm trying to figure out what 200 seat location around there they could be occupying; I'll have to take a walk around this weekend.

The former GP Franklin spot came to mind, but I'm not sure.

That space has a brand new occupant.

E.M.

Hmmm,
There was some brand new construction going on a block south of Lawrence on Lincoln, just south of the new Cold Stone Creamery; and there seemed to be some activity at the old Enisa's space too.

Eric - The corner spot that was once occupied by Fannie May is now a Cafe Decartes Coffe Shop. GP Franklins space is still sitting with all it's old equipment in it. Just passed it today.

And frankly I think the Chef would do well to fix the problems at Bistro Campange before venturing forth. IMHO.

Cafe Descartes
4711 N. Lincoln

bryan wrote:Eric - The corner spot that was once occupied by Fannie May is now a Cafe Decartes Coffe Shop. GP Franklins space is still sitting with all it's old equipment in it. Just passed it today.

And frankly I think the Chef would do well to fix the problems at Bistro Campange before venturing forth. IMHO.

Cafe Descartes
4711 N. Lincoln

Oh, I am sorry. I drove by in a hurry the other day, and obviously wasn't paying close attention.

E.M.

Try 4771 (not 4711) North Lincoln for Cafe Descartes.

I, too, suspect the former G P Franklin's space is the only vacant space near Lawrence and Lincoln that is possibly large enough to hold a restaurant with 200 seats. Even then they would probably have to cram the tables as closely as the late She She. My initial questions were is the reported number of seats accurate, what kind of prices will they have to charge given the costs and availability of organic ingredients and how many people will pay those prices. There are formidible problems in producing organic hard red winter wheat due to timing of nitrogen needs. I own a wheat farm in Kansas and am quite familiar with wheat production, so anybody who wants more info on the problems of producing organic bread wheat and why very few growers would try it can PM me.

The old Northern Refrigeration space on Lincoln where Cold Stone Creamery is going might have been large enough for a 200-seat restaurant in total, but the space left after the Bank 1 (now Chase) branch wouldn't have been large enough. It looks to me as though Cold Stone is taking at least 40% of the remaining space, which doesn't leave much room for whatever is going into the the southernmost slot. Looking in the window a couple of hours ago, most of the fixtures seem to be in for Cold Stone.

Where have I been??? I must not have recently walked down that little stretch of Lincoln where Cold Stone is going in because I had no idea. Although I have to say that while I love the concept of mix-ins, I find Cold Stone's ice cream to be a little too sweet.

As for the prices they'll need to charge and whether people will pay it, I guess it all comes down to how good the product will be. For example, I think Piece is a little pricey compared to other thin crust offerings around town, but I think the pizza tastes fantastic, so I'm willing to spend more. Of course, I'm sure Piece makes plenty of dough on their microbrews and O.O.W. might have to do the same if it wants to survive.

I walked up and down Lincoln between Lawrence and Leland this past weekend and the only spot I noticed that would seem to be able to accommodate 200 seats is the old GP Franklin spot. Of course, that location still has a "for lease" sign in the window, so perhaps that's not the spot or perhaps it's not signed and sealed just yet. But I will say that it's very nice to see lots of comings on Lincoln from Sunnyside to Lawrence.

The southern part of the old Northern Refrigeration building now has signs indicating Potbelly is coming. That will put one in the block north of Costello's and about a block south of Jimmy Johns.

Some work seems to be going on in the Enisa's space, but that storefront isn't large enough for much of a restaurant. A bit farther south the old True Value hardware store space has been cleaned out and for lease signs put up.

I still think the G P Franklin's space is most likely although I have to wonder about 200 seats. The signs offer a bit under 4800 square feet. Dividing that by 200, you get less than 24 square feet (equal 4 by 6 feet) per seat for everything including kitchen and storage. Commercial spaces often have for sale or lease signs up even after construction has started, so I don't think the signs mean much. It is possible that not all lease details are nailed down, though. No sign of any cleanup or construction activity. Wife hopes they keep the ladies room, which she regarded as the best feature of G P Franklin.

We stopped in Cafe Descartes for a couple of decent decaf espressos, quite unlike the horrible scorched flavor at a well-known chain. They roast their own beans, which they also sell as whole beans. They have a cooler with gelati and ices. The lemon ice appeared to be freshly made: peaks in the tray and not fully hardened yet. We resisted the temptation, though. Some other time, maybe after some soup for lunch. They seem to have three soups daily.

Now comes word that they might be looking to open in Bucktown as opposed to Lincoln Square -- we'll see.

Now that would be exciting!

bananasandwiches wrote:Now that would be exciting!

Depends on your location, of course. I have to say that when I head to Bucktown for pizza, I always head to Piece. I think it might have a better shot in Lincoln Square. Perhaps it's a lease issue . . . or at least a lease negotiation tool.

In a conversation with representatives of the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce, I learned that the Campagne's pizza concept has pulled out of that location. Apparently, there is some sort of zoning for that space that it is required to have a certain perecentage of non-restaurant retail (hence, that weird thing that took up a lot of space in the front the short-lived G.P. Franklins selling period knick-knacks and assorted junk.) Can't maxmize seats if you aren't allowed to. Probably won't see a restaurant in that space again unless it's re-zoned.

dan1234 wrote:In a conversation with representatives of the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce, I learned that the Campagne's pizza concept has pulled out of that location. Apparently, there is some sort of zoning for that space that it is required to have a certain perecentage of non-restaurant retail (hence, that weird thing that took up a lot of space in the front the short-lived G.P. Franklins selling period knick-knacks and assorted junk.) Can't maxmize seats if you aren't allowed to. Probably won't see a restaurant in that space again unless it's re-zoned.

That certainly has to make it difficult on the landlord in that it limits the rental options, something no landlord wants to do. I'm shocked that he/she/it wouldn't seek to have it rezoned. Given the number of restaurants in the area, I don't believe it would be difficult to accomplish.

It seems odd that one spot would require the retail requirement, doesn't it? None of the other Lincoln Square Restaurants seem to: Garcias, Brahaus, etc., etc. The two times I did enter G.P. Franklins the space did seem awfully strange -- Salvador Dali meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. That place was destined to fail with those particular rules. (Also - it just wasn't very good).

I've lived in the neighborhood about ten-years now and recall that it was a rather strange, cluttered five-and-dime before the hood started changing. Always just assumed that it had previously been a Woolworths and someone had bought it lock, stock and barrel after they closed out. Anyone know?

bryan wrote:It seems odd that one spot would require the retail requirement, doesn't it? None of the other Lincoln Square Restaurants seem to: Garcias, Brahaus, etc., etc. The two times I did enter G.P. Franklins the space did seem awfully strange -- Salvador Dali meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. That place was destined to fail with those particular rules. (Also - it just wasn't very good).

I've lived in the neighborhood about ten-years now and recall that it was a rather strange, cluttered five-and-dime before the hood started changing. Always just assumed that it had previously been a Woolworths and someone had bought it lock, stock and barrel after they closed out. Anyone know?

I don't know what the G.P. Franklin's spot was before that, but I'm guessing that if the zoning issue exists, other restaurants simply applied for exemptions and that the entire strip was never re-zoned, or that restaurants in place before the zoning was changed were granted exemptions to the zoning changes. Not sure though.

There was a Jupiter store for many years in the space that became G. P. Franklin's. Jupiter was owned by Kresge before it bacame KMart and was more a clothing store than a 5 and 10. The space was largely empty for some years after the Jupiter store closed. Then a store selling largely junky close-out merchandise was there for several years.

All this time the corner storefront of the same building was a Fanny Mae store until their bankruptcy. Cafe Descartes is now in that storefront.

Zoning along the Lincoln Square mall south to the el tracks appears to have been changed to B1-1 when the new zoning ordinance went into effect in 2004. Lincoln south of the el tracks is B3-2. B1-1 now is very different from what it was in the 1957 zoning ordinance and appears to be fairly similar to what was permitted under nominally higher zoning in the old ordinance except for limiting building height to 38 feet. In any case prior users were grandfathered, so only new users would need to comply. Note that the Cafe Descartes, Coldstone Creamery and Potbelly are all in B1-1 zoned buildings and quite post-2004. The story about zoning requiring a portion of the restaurant having retail space has a somewhat fishy aroma. Now if somebody said that the square footage was not large enough to permit the number of seats they wanted, that would be plausible.

It's official. There will be no Organic Oven Works in the old G.P. Franklin's spot or in Lincoln Square. It's now going to be called Flatearth and it will be in the old Settimana Cafe spot at 2056 W. Division.