The stretch of Southport in Lakeview continues to change, as Justin's ended it's 31-year run when the sports bar shuttered on Sunday. Owner Justin Salk has told multiple outlets he wasn't looking to sell, but that 4 Star Restaurant Group —which owns Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar and Crosby's Kitchen (the latter standing across the street from Justin's)— made him an offer hard to ignore. A 4 Star rep confirmed the purchase, saying they're going to completely rebuild the space, making room for a "great new idea," but he wouldn't disclose further details on plans for the full-service restaurant.
Salk will auction off sports memorabilia, TVs and decorations that hung on Justin's walls on Jan. 26 at the bar, giving the space a send off. Southport Corridor News first reported the shutter and auction.
Salk opened Justin's in 1984 and served up food, craft beers and offered patrons outdoor seating in their beer garden. But times are changing on Southport. If the arrival of stores like Lulemon and Anthropologie weren't harbingers, the openings of the second Coalfire Pizza and Corridor Brewery & Provisions, plus the shutter of Mystic Celt certainly provided them.
Four Star has also taken over the building next to Crosby's at 1353 W. Cornelia Ave. They're planning to open another full-service restaurant under an undetermined name (it's not 100 percent that it will be Three Sisters), the group's rep said. After that project and the concept planned for Justin's opens, 4 Star would count 11 establishments under its portfolio.
