Spring Restaurant to Close Doors for Good After NYE

Last May, a shock ran through the city's restaurant scene when it was reported that Spring, a highly acclaimed restaurant that opened in 2001 and really put chef Shawn McClain on the map, was up for sale. Tensions had risen between McClain and his business partners, Peter and Sue Kim Drohomyrecky, and the trio decided to offload the restaurant.

Today, official news comes that Spring will serve its last meal on New Year's Eve. "The close of the year seemed like the right time to let Spring go—our lease is up and my partners and I have decided to part ways," McClain said in a statement. "We had a great run and now, I look forward to focusing on upcoming projects."

McClain will spend more time on his West Town vegetarian eatery, Green Zebra, as well as Sage, which he opened in Las Vegas last year. He's also working on a Green Zebra cookbook and has plans to expand that concept as well as create new restaurants in the Chicago market. The Drohomyreckys will continue to focus on the recently overhauled Custom House Tavern, the third restaurant they opened with McClain, where newly appointed executive chef Perry Hendrix is heading up the kitchen.

To pay homage to some of Spring's most popular dishes from the last decade, the restaurant will offer a $59 four-course, prix-fixe meal with optional wine pairings ($26) throughout November and December, and a grand tasting menu will also be available. The regular nightly a la carte menu will no longer be available.
· Spring for Sale: The Popular Bucktown Restaurant Hits the Market [WBEZ]