The Melting Pot Shutters After a Decade of Fondue In River North

No more skewers will be dipped into pots of melting cheese in River North. The downtown Chicago location of The Melting Pot chain shuttered on Sunday due to "financial reasons," according to a rep, ending more than a decade of dated fondue service at 609 N. Dearborn.

The Florida-based chain opened the River North location in July 2004. It currently has more than 125 locations in business in 35 states, in addition to restaurants in Canada, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and the United Arab Emirates. CEO Ervin Emery also recently opened the fusion fast-casual restaurant Baocos in Bucktown.

If you're in the mood for fondue near Chicago, three suburban Melting Pots remain in business (Schaumburg, Naperville, Downers Grove), and longtime local favorite Geja's Cafe is still melting cheese in Lincoln Park. There's no word what's coming to the River North space next.