Urban Union Goes Under

Urban Union, the wine-focused restaurant that was in the works since 1997, didn't last 16 months. The Taylor Street wine spot closed up after business on Saturday, four weeks after staffers were alerted to the impending shuttering. Staffers say that business fell off precipitously.

Originally a partnership between restaurateur Jason Chan and chef Michael Shrader (N9NE, Epic), Chan left the business less than three months in. Shrader soldiered on to run the business until now. Shrader was not immediately available for comment, but Chan had this to say:

"I'm very saddened and disappointed by the news, although I walked away and gave my 50 percent to Michael three months after it opened, it was, like all things I do, a labor of love.

I wish Michael all the best in his next venture, he's extremely talented at cooking and needs to find another partner like me that is great with people - I intentionally closed one door in my life to allow the opportunity of another door to open for me - and I wish the same for my former partner."

Chan's new restaurant with B.K. Park, Juno, is scheduled to open within the next two weeks. There's no word yet on what Shrader's plans are.
· All Urban Union Coverage [~ECHI~]
· All Jason Chan Coverage [~ECHI~]
· All Michael Shrader Coverage [~ECHI~]

[UPDATE: The former Director of PR & Media Relations for Michael Shrader and Urban Union Chicago confirms the closing.]