5 Recent Chicago's Restaurant Closures to Know
The Shutter, a regular roundup of Chicago's restaurant closures, is your resource to find out what's on its way out. The list is by no means comprehensive. Have information on another closing? Send all tips to chicago@eater.com .
BUCKTOWN— Mable's Table has closed at 1655 W. Cortland Street. In a world where 'neighborhood gem' is cliché, the phrase is actually applicable in this case. The restaurant opened in 2017, filling the big shoes left after the 22-year run of Jane's ended in the same space. Saturday, June 21, was Mable's last day of service.
GARFIELD RIDGE— After 26 years, Oak Mill Bakery has closed its South Harlem Avenue location. While the bakery at 5747 S. Harlem is closed, its four suburban locations, including one in Harwood Heights on North Harlem, remain open.
JEFFERSON PARK— Gale Street Inn, a neighborhood restaurant that epitomized North Side barbecue thanks to its ribs, is closed. The sudden announcement ended a 62-year run across the street from the CTA's Jefferson Park Blue Line Stop. Gale Street's ownership blamed challenges finding workers, and media reports began shifting blame at Chicago's move to ban the tipped minimum wage, which goes into effect on July 1. But as it's hard to predict the ordinance's impact other than to see how it impacted Washington, D.C. Perhaps Gale Street's closure is a referendum on Chicago's barbecue scene, which is marketably different from six decades ago. Lem's Bar-B-Q just won a James Beard Award. Smoque BBQ is in the headlines over a trademark dispute with Weber Grills. Gale Street was also trapped in the past. Who can forget their '90s spots on sports radio, bragging about never playing hip hop in their dining room? Regardless, Gale Street was a pillar of the Northwest Side community since 1963 and a place for special occasions, including first dates, birthdays, and graduation parties.
WEST TOWN— Vegans were dealt a big blow as Liberation Kitchen has closed at 2054 W. Grand Avenue. Operated by Vegan food company Upton's Naturals, Liberation Kitchen has served the public for 12 years with veganized versions of Chicago dogs, doughnuts, and more. Ownership says they'll continue to host vegan farmers markets and want to focus more on Upton's.
WICKER PARK— Milk & Honey, once considered an anchor along Division Street, has been closed since May after the city suspended the cafe's business license. New owners have run the cafe at 1920 W. Division Street since 2022, and they've faced some challenges over the years. Management describes the closure as a temporary move, but there haven't been updates in five weeks. See More: Chicago Restaurant Closings
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Eater
2 days ago
- Eater
5 Recent Chicago Restaurant Closures to Know
is the Associate Editor for Eater's Midwest region, and has been covering Chicago's dining scene for over a decade. Summer is generally the busiest season for the restaurant industry, but that doesn't mean it's easygoing. Rising costs, shortage of workers, and real estate conflicts are all contributing to the shuttering of beloved businesses. These are the latest restaurant closures in Chicago — some have been around for decades while others are still newcomers, but they're all sad nonetheless. The Shutter, a regular roundup of Chicago's restaurant closures, is your resource to find out what's on its way out. The list is by no means comprehensive. Have information on another closing? Send all tips to chicago@ July 30 LINCOLN SQUARE — Michelin-starred restaurant Atelier has closed the book on its original home at 4835 N. Western Avenue. The last night of service was Saturday, July 19, and the restaurant held a garage sale afterwards to sell off kitchenware. Atelier will reemerge in a larger space a couple of blocks away at 4544 N. Western Avenue. An opening date has not been announced. 4835 N. Western Avenue. PORTAGE PARK — A coffee shop near Six Corners has poured its last cup of brew for now. Smarty Cup Cafe, which had been open for less than a year and a half, announced its closure on an Instagram post. The cafe says it will reopen in another location. 4944 W. Irving Park Road. RIVER NORTH — Following a mass shooting outside of the establishment on July 2, Artis Restaurant and Lounge has closed permanently. The incident, which killed four people and wounded 14 others, occurred following an album release party for rapper Mello Buckzz at the venue. Artis owners Brandi and Brittany Artis released a statement announcing the closure via a social media post, writing, 'Our curated space of love and acceptance was threatened by a senseless act of hate … We refuse to let hate win, and we will not let fear deter us. We will continue to grow through the pain and find ways to heal, together.' The queer- and Black-owned restaurant opened this past April. 311 W. Chicago Avenue. SOUTH LOOP — Local pizza chain Paisans, which offers thin-crust and deep-dish pies, wings, burgers, pastas, and salads, has exited the South Loop. Chicago content creator Alex Linardos spotted a message, posted on the door of the restaurant, announcing the closure. P The remaining city locations are in West Lawn and Belmont Cragin; there are also outposts in the suburbs. 700 S. Clark Street. ROSEMONT — Murray Bros. Caddyshack, the restaurant from Chicago-area native and actor Bill Murray, has closed. The 8,600-square-foot establishment was themed after '80s sports comedy film Caddyshack and opened near O'Hare International Airport in 2018. In a message on its website, the restaurant thanked customers and the local community for its support over the last seven years. A Murray Bros. Caddyshack restaurant had been planned for Wilmette in 2022 but failed to materialize. The original location in Augustine, Florida is the sole Caddyshack remaining. 9546 Balmoral Avenue. Eater Chicago All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Axios
2 days ago
- Axios
Miami's summer slowdown claims even more restaurants
Less than two months after Chef Nando Chang won a James Beard Award as the head chef of Itamae AO, the restaurant announced it was closing on Saturday — the latest in a summer of high-profile restaurant closures. Why it matters: This year's seasonal slowdown has been marked by a seemingly never-ending stream of social media posts thanking customers for their support and news outlets announcing final services. Between the lines: Itamae AO's future became unclear in late June after his sister, award-winning chef Valerie Chang, announced she was stepping away from Maty's, the Peruvian restaurant next door. Customers accessed Itamae through the adjoining Maty's space. In an Instagram post Tuesday night, the intimate, Michelin star restaurant said it wasn't going away for good: "We're excited to find our new home." The big picture: Just shy of the season's halfway mark, the Miami Herald this month reported that many local chefs and restaurant owners felt this summer was "shaping up to be the worst" one yet, citing "non-existent" foot traffic and a drop in reservations. Others blamed the rising cost of food, rent and insurance. State of plate: The outlet at the time listed nine recent closures, ranging from Michelin-stared restaurants like Maty's to longtime favorites like Miami Beach's Sardinia Italian restaurant, which closed after almost 20 years. Since then, a handful of others have shuttered, too: CHICA, which closed after six years; Piegari Italian restaurant, which closed after just one year; and Erba, the award-winning Italian restaurant, which operated in Coral Gables for about two years. What they're saying: "For a lot of our businesses, most of them being outdoors, heat" is a factor, Emi Guerra, co-founder of Breakwater Hospitality Group, which owns restaurants across South Florida, told Axios. Still, a restaurant's location — whether it's in a busy, walkable neighborhood or has a strong local clientele — plus its ability to pivot over the summer to things like events or parties, can also determine how hard it's hit during the summer slowdown, he said. Meanwhile, while speaking on a podcast in May, Felix Bendersky, founder of F&B Hospitality Leasing, said one of the reasons the summer slowdown is punching harder is because Miami's peak season is "getting less and less." While it used to end in June and start up again in September, Bendersky said it is now more likely to end after the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, which was the first weekend in May this year, and restart around Art Basel, which isn't until December.
Eater
3 days ago
- Eater
One of Seattle's Oldest Diners Is Closing After 62 Years
The Ravenna Varsity — typically just called the Varsity — which has been holding down the corner of 65th Street and 23rd Avenue Northeast for an astonishing 62 years, will close permanently on Sunday, August 3, Vanishing Seattle reports. The diner was a North Seattle landmark and outlived its original building, which was torn down in 2002; the Varsity reopened in the mixed-use building that replaced it in 2004. According to Vanishing Seattle, Mariners manager Lou Pinella had a meal at the Varsity after arriving in town for the job and asked waitress Sandy Pelkey for directions to the Kingdome. Pelkey has been working there since 1979 and bought the Varsity from original owner Ozzie Boyle; she now runs the restaurant with her son Bryan. Pelkey told Vanishing Seattle that the Varsity is closing after she couldn't reach an agreement on a new lease with the landlord. Rising prices and pandemic-related losses also contributed to the decision (common factors in many recent restaurant closures). 'While it breaks our hearts to see the Varsity shut its doors, what we will miss the most is the customers that have become like members of our family,' the Pelkeys told Vanishing Seattle. 'The doors may shut, but the connections and community we built will last a lifetime.' Here are more notable restaurant and bar closure announcements from around Seattle. If you know of a closure we missed, please email us at seattle@ CAPITOL HILL — Gold Bar, on Pike and 12th Avenue, has closed permanently, reports Capitol Hill Seattle Blog. The owners told CHS that they lost the lease due to a 'real estate deal,' but the building has not been sold recently, notes CHS. Afterlife, a nightclub that was connected to the bar, has also closed. FREMONT — Acclaimed restaurant the Whale Wins will be closing on October 28, the Sea Creatures restaurant group announced this month. Star chef Renee Erickson still has several restaurants in her portfolio (with plans to open more in Pioneer Square), but the Whale was the one that earned her a James Beard Award in 2016. Still, it had been losing money for some time, Sea Creatures co-owner Jeremy Price told Eater Seattle, and ownership decided not to renew the lease. BAINBRIDGE ISLAND — Longtime Seattle-area chef Greg Atkinson, a pioneer in the 'eat local' movement, has retired, closing his restaurant, Marche. The Seattle Times reports that it will be replaced by a new seafood restaurant called Sweetwater Tavern, which will open later this year. RAVENNA — A bizarre early July incident in which a car drove through the storefront of the Mioposto on 55th Street and 35th Avenue Northeast led to the pizzeria being closed temporarily for repairs. Several diners were injured by the car crash, though thankfully none critically. MADISON PARK — Three years after opening, the nonalcoholic-friendly bar, restaurant, and hangout spot Kamp Social House has closed permanently. 'This decision comes after much reflection and is rooted in the need to take a personal pause,' wrote owners Marceil Van Camp and Katy Knauff in an Instagram announcement. KIRKLAND — Arleana's, a Carribean cocktails and dinner spot from the owners of Island Soul, has closed after just two years, reports the Seattle Times. 'This wasn't an easy decision, but please know how grateful we are for every visit, every shared meal, and every smile,' the owners wrote on Instagram. The family's Columbia City restaurant remains open. BELLTOWN — Also via the Times, Korean Bamboo, home of some killer silken tofu, has closed permanently, 'with a notice from the owner citing safety issues in the neighborhood and more, while sincerely thanking fans for all the love.' CAPITOL HILL — Finally, Capitol Hill Seattle Blog reports that Finch and Pine has closed permanently. Owner Sara Moran (of famed Seattle restaurant Sitka and Spruce) wrote on Instagram that 'the main reason is because I'm ready for a new chapter.'
