After Nearly 70 Years, One of Chicago’s Favorite Italian Beef Stands Will Close

After nearly seven decades in business, one of Chicago’s favorite Italian beef stands has announced it will close. Joe Boston’s Italian Beef will shutter on Saturday, May 13, the restaurant announced via Facebook. The light-green building at Grand and Chicago stands out as it dates back to 1949 when it was a social club.

Boston’s serves hot dogs, Polish sausages, and fries, too. But the main attraction is the beef, a classic preparation with plenty of black pepper and a tinge of oregano. Homemade giardiniera completed the package. Spero Kutrubis is the late Boston’s son-in-law and runs the place with his family. His sandwiches have earned national acclaim with a handful of TV appearances.

The family didn’t provide a reason for the shutter, but after the space has been for sale on the real estate market for months, the listing now says it’s “in-contract” so a new owner could be taking over soon. There’s no word on who that could be, however.

The restaurant rests in a sparsely-developed area near a city auto impound at 2932 W. Chicago Ave. While most experiences at the towing yard are difficult, a four-minute walk to Joe Boston’s could turn the day around. Chicagoans only have four days to visit this Chicago classic, however.