Karyn Calabrese Announces Closure of Last Vegan Restaurant After Settling $112K Lawsuit

Karyn Calabrese told loyal customers on Monday night that she was closing Karyn’s in Lincoln Park, the final eatery remaining in her vegan-friendly restaurant group. This comes after she and her husband in July settled a $112,000 lawsuit filed against them in November. Calabrese, via a customer newsletter, told customers that she’s planning on reopening at an undisclosed location in Bucktown.

Karyn’s remains open for the time being and management said they’ll send further information about a closing date in the coming weeks. The newsletter made no mention of an opening timeframe or a new location.

Calabrese, plagued with money, legal and health problems this year, branded herself as an expert in alternative medicine and in a meat-free lifestyle for many years. DNAinfo first reported the closure announcement. Last year, she shuttered her West Loop restaurant, Karyn’s On Green, as well as Karyn’s Cooked in River North.

Cook County court records show that she and her husband Jerrold "Jerry" Scherer on July 14 settled a $112,000 lawsuit filed against them by United Investors. Records also show a previously unreported lawsuit against Scherer filed in March by American Express. The credit card company wants $32,140 that stems from an initial $7,319 in charges on Scherer’s AMEX platinum card as well as accumulated late fees and interest that date back to December.

The closure would end a 17-year run on Halsted Street. Stay tuned for news on if and where Karyn's reopens.