Chicago : Closings

Closings: Blackhawk Down, Nick's and Cordis Out

BuzzEditor — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:47:00 GMT

After 40 years in its Wheeling location (after 49 years on Wabash), Don Roth's Blackhawk will be closing up shop on December 31, 2009. That leaves less than two months to get that steak you've been craving.

In other closings, Nick's Fishmarket has closed after 32 years in the loop (the outpost in Rosemont remains open).

Finally, the Cordis Brothers Supper Club in Lakeview has given up the ghost after two years.

Aigre Doux Closes

BuzzEditor — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:34:00 GMT

Two-year old Aigre Doux in River North has closed. According to the release that just came in, owner Mohammad Islam and Malika Ameen will focus on raising their three sons, and "Malika will continue to chronicle her and Mohammad’s daily adventure of balancing parenthood and their life as award-winning chefs – as well as the daily ritual of feeding their three young boys – on Twitter at twitter.com/aigredoux."

Le Lan and SOUL Shuttered

BuzzEditor — Tue, 12 May 2009 22:24:00 GMT

Howard Davis' pair of restaurants, Le Lan and SOUL, have both closed. In a statement to the press, Davis explains, “We had to close due to a downturn in business that we attribute to the current economic situation. We appreciate all of the great effort our staff made over the years in creating very high quality restaurants and we are grateful to all of our customers who supported us over the years.”

Closed: Coq, Powerhouse, Tramonto

BuzzEditor — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:37:00 GMT

Oak Park's Café le Coq and the Loop's Powerhouse have both shuttered. Osteria di Tramonto at the Westin Chicago North Shore in Wheeling has also closed and is undergoing a concept change, according to Dan Egan, director of sales and marketing at the hotel.

Closings: Mambo Grill and Rockstar

BuzzEditor — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:10:00 GMT

River North's Mambo Grill will close on March 31, although its owner, Frasca Hospitality Group, says it will reopen late this summer in a location just two blocks away (410 N. Wells St.).

Meanwhile, 2008 arrival Rockstar Dogs has also bid Chicago adieu at both the Lincoln Park and West Town locations.

Spertus Signs Off

BuzzEditor — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:23:00 GMT

After a year of serving kosher fare in the South Loop, the Wolfgang Puck–led Spertus Cafe in the Spertus building is closing shop on March 1.

Cru Out, Feast In

BuzzEditor — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:28:00 GMT

After two years, Debbie Sharpe's Cru Café has closed and is being converted into a second outpost of her Bucktown standard Feast. Owner Sharpe was "very sad" to see the Gold Coast New American go because of the loyal clientele and staff it had nurtured, but in the current economic climate she felt the space would be better served as Feast (and would better complement her market, The Goddess and Grocer, next door). The new Feast should open in two to three weeks.

Blue Water Grill Out to Dry

BuzzEditor — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:30:00 GMT

Due to economic woes, BR Guest today brought the ax down on three of its big properties, Eater reports. Here in Chicago, Blue Water Grill is closed, effective immediately. In New York, the group's highly regarded Italian Fiamma and a branch of its Ruby Foo mini-chain have been shuttered.

Closed: Avenue M, Brasserie Ruhlmann (For Now) and Shochu

BuzzEditor — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:33:00 GMT

The downturn in the economy has already claimed some victims in the restaurant industry – most recently New American steakhouse Avenue M closed. But others are looking for ways to adapt. River North's Brasserie Ruhlmann has closed temporarily, with plans to remodel and reopen in a month. Meanwhile, the owners of Japanese izakaya Shochu in Lakeview have decided to turn their restaurant into a second branch of Deleece (called Deleece Grill). It's opening tonight, serving American comfort food staples like mac 'n' cheese.

Erba Says Arrivederci

BuzzEditor — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:47:00 GMT

Lincoln Square trattoria Erba is calling it quits on September 13th. The owner, Robert Butterfield, cited general economic malaise and a lack of business for the closing, but plans to reopen with an American comfort food spot in late September. Erba’s exec chef, Alan Pirhofer, will be moving on.

Closed: Grotto, Szechuan House, Tucci Bennuch and Others

BuzzEditor — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:43:00 GMT

Recent closings around Chicago include Café Suron, Grotto, La Strada, Mas, Szechuan House, Tagine, Tokyo 21 and Tucci Bennuch.

One Door Closes, Two Doors Open

BuzzEditor — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:01:00 GMT

Meritage Café & Bar closes January 1st after a long run as a regional American pioneering the cuisine of the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, owner Chris Peckat is keeping busy by opening side-by-side spots in Wrigleyville. In late December, his Risqué Café debuts in the former Improv Kitchen (3419 N. Clark St.); expect a funky-casual "American smokehouse" serving BBQ favorites, cheesecake, hundreds of microbrews and decor that's "risqué," not the menu. Then in early '08 comes a designer thin-crust pie pusher named Purgatory Pizza next door (3415 N. Clark St.).

Butter Now Private; Mulan in Limbo

BuzzEditor — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:12:00 GMT

Butter, the Greektown New American, is now open for private parties only (130 S. Green St.; 312-666-9813).

Meanwhile, Mulan, the chic Chinatown Asian, is temporarily closed due to construction at the Chinatown Square Mall; its reopening date is not known (2017 S. Wells St., 2nd fl.; 312-842-8282).

Losing Schwa

BuzzEditor — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:07:00 GMT

The rule-tossing Schwa (where the chefs served the food and there was no wine list) has shuttered after an accolade-filled two-year run for chef-owner Michael Carlson and crew. But talk about going out with a bang. Chicago Magazine's Dish reports that on its last night, October 5th, the tiny restaurant was packed with world-class toques in town for Charlie Trotter's 20th anniversary bash, including Trotter himself.

Closed: Baccalà, Barcello’s and More

BuzzEditor — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 20:51:00 GMT

Wicker Park Italians Baccalà and Barcello’s have closed.

In Wrigleyville, Twisted Spoke (Clark St.) has lost its lease while the original Near West location (N. Ogden Ave.) keeps cruising with pub grub and killer Bloody Marys.

And River North Mexican Xel-Há has said adiós.