5 Restaurant Shutters to Know in Chicago

THE LOOP— French Accent at Willis Tower will close on Friday. The buffet was a popular spot for a quick meal with a large selection. The restaurant has been open since 2010 but there's another location in the Aon Center.

LINCOLN SQUARE— Mash has been closed for a week. The windows are papered up, but the owners won’t confirm anything to DNAinfo. The former Bad Dog Tavern, 4535 N. Lincoln Ave., re-concepted in 2015 with a new name and menu, taking advantage of one of the nicest patios in the neighborhood. The owners didn't return a message for comment. Also, city officials on Dec. 2 showed up to inspect the restaurant but couldn't get entry.

OAK LAWN— It's almost curtains for fans of animatronic mice and pizza in suburban Oak Lawn. The village called a special meeting after more criminal activity linked to Chuck E. Cheese's, 4031 W. 95th St. The chain and the village are now in negotiations to shutter the pizza/amusement spot, according to Oak Lawn Patch. The latest crime involved a man who was shot a few blocks away at a strip mall parking lot. Since 2011, police have fielded more than 300 calls relating to the restaurant, according to the Daily Southtown.

MCKINLEY PARK— Veteran Tamale, 3133 S. Archer Ave., which has been peddling tamales for more than 70 years, will soon close. The restaurant, which also served burgers, sausages and more, opened in 1946 and this is their second location. DNAinfo noted that the recipe is different from traditional Mexican tamales. Tamales, of course, debuted in America at the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893 in Chicago.

UKRAINIAN VILLAGE— Gari Sushi & Asian Bistro has closed at 2020 W. Chicago Ave. and have moved to 2507 W. Fullerton Ave. A hastily-painted sign has gone up in the window suggesting a "curious" new spot is already on its way.

Ashok Selvam