Tom Kern Exits Geek Bar For Personal Reasons; Replacement Search Begins

Citing personal reasons, Tom Kern has resigned from his position as executive chef of Geek Bar owner David Zoltan says. Geek Bar has been operating in "beta" mode since the beginning of October in the former Storefront Company space. Officially staying in Wicker Park until the end of December, Zoltan arranged the extension so that work on Geek Bar's Lincoln Park location can be completed.

Kern, the former chef/owner of BadHappy Poutine Shop, had been working with Zoltan for the past year-and-a-half on the menu. Zoltan says that he "will miss his unique creativity," adding that Kern is "unrivaled" in his "culinary imagination."

While the search for Kern's replacement commences, Monica Dewey, who previously worked at DMK Burger as well as with Kern at BadHappy Poutine, is handling kitchen duties. The menu was due to be supplemented with one entitled "Experiments from the Geek Bar Lab" before Kern's departure. Zoltan says that they're still deciding on when to implement it due to the change, but expects it to debut sooner rather than later.

For now, he suggests that guests "keep an eye on Facebook" for food and drink items that will make appearances, as well as for special events they have planned. One to put on your calendar now is this Friday's movie night screening of the cult film "Rubber."