Caffe de Luca Closing Late May to Make Way for Grass Fed

On the cusp of its 13th anniversary, Caffe de Luca announced it has sold its business and will close at the end of May or in early June. The popular Bucktown cafe, whose interior has an Old World Italy feel, with its hanging clothesline, rustic decor, specialty coffees, Italian wine and sodas, and pizza, pasta and panini, didn't give a reason for selling. When called, a manager said he didn't really know why the owners decided to close, but that it's a "complicated answer."

The cafe posted a comment on Facebook that its suburban Forest Park location would remain open, and when asked about that, the manager said it would "at least for the time being." While Bucktown is losing one of its long-standing successful eateries that served as a friendly meeting place for drinks, coffee and brunch, a new restaurant is moving in. Grass Fed looks like it will be a steakhouse with a focus of sourcing the best organic and sustainable meat. There's not much other information available and no word yet on whether Grass Fed will have a completely different look and feel from De Luca, but stay tuned.