Say So Long to Sola On Oct. 4 Before New Concept Opens In Weeks

The ownership team that took over Sola Restaurant in February still won't share all the details on what will become of the space after the nine-year-old restaurant closes. But there's finally a closing date, Sunday, Oct. 4. New owner Fred Albert did confirm that he and his team want to reopen the space the week before Thanksgiving with a new name and concept.

Albert purchased the restaurant in February from Carol Wallack and he originally expected to only keep Sola open until April. But acquiring a liquor license for their new concept from the city of Chicago took longer than anticipated, so he kept it open for nearly six more months. Wallack ran and owned Sola for nine years, a dining destination known for Hawaiian cuisine.

"We want to put Sola to rest with respect," said Albert, a southwest suburban native.

Expect a more casual vibe with the new place. It won't be a sports bar, Albert stressed, but it's a concept that he and his team have contemplated for more than two years. That team includes his wife, Kristin Albert, her identical-twin sister, as well as her husband. The twins inspired the holding company's name, Mirror Image Hospitality. There's hope to take the concept — whatever it might be — elsewhere, Fred Albert said. He and his team won't even share the name of the place, but he did say it would be "cool, classy, without being pretentious."

The Alberts should release details soon, but for now, enjoy a final meal at Sola before it closes in less than two weeks.