Max's Wine Dive Shuttering in Wicker Park at April's End

After just over 10 months in business in Wicker Park, Texas-based wine and comfort food chain Max's Wine Dive is shuttering its only Chicago location at the end of April. Official word came down from the company today following a stint in the rumor mill, and CEO and founder Jerry Lasko released the following statement discussing the decision and the fates of the restaurant's employees:

"After careful consideration we have made the difficult decision to close the MAX's Wine Dive in Wicker Park at the end of April.  We thank our loyal fans from the neighborhood and appreciate the support they have shown us over the past year.  We also thank our superb team in the restaurant who served excellent food and wine to all our guests.  We have offered many of the staff members there opportunities to relocate to one of our other eight MAX's Wine Dive locations."

Best known for its fried chicken and wine selection, Max's Wine Dive, which operates six Texas locations, one in Atlanta and is working towards an opening in Denver, made the jump to Chicago in June 2014 when it opened in the former Covo Gyro Market space on Milwaukee Avenue. There's no word yet on what will come to the space, but considering the high traffic, turnover and competition in Wicker Park, don't expect it to stay vacant for long following Max's last day on April 30.