Five Chicago Restaurant Closures to Know

LAKEVIEW— Those virtual restaurants that cooked food out of a kitchen at 3208 N. Southport Ave. have shuttered. The websites for Authentic, Blue Crown Wings, Melt 350, Bloodshot Nights, Mac Royale, and F.I.S.H. Poke Bar are no longer taking orders. They opened back in March from Green Summit, a New York-based company that had run virtual restaurants (online delivery-only spots) back east. Southport Corridor News was the first to report the story.

LINCOLN PARK— The former Meatloaf Bakery space is once again vacant. Afternoon, the Korean/Japanese spot with odd hours, closed at 2464 N. Clark St. They opened in December with adorable signage, but for the past few weeks the windows have been papered up.

MORGAN PARK— There was a time when Leona’s, Italian-American chain, ruled Chicago with locations all across the city. But now, the chain (once owned by Illinois Restaurant Association President Sam Toia) has closed its location at 11060 S. Western Ave. DNAinfo reported a sign was posted reading that the location was closed for remodeling. But when the reported called another location, that person said the restaurant was permanently closed. The location’s info was also scrubbed from Leona’s website. One possible tenant is Firewater Saloon, a country bar in Edison Park, reported DNAinfo. However, it seems they’re also interested in Streeterville.

NORTH CENTER— No one is talking about what’s going on with Northdown Cafe and Taproom, the craft beer bar with gourmet sausages at 3244 N. Lincoln Ave. They’ve been closed for weeks “for maintenance, painting, deep cleaning, etc.,” according to a sign posted on their window. The sign also reads they’ll “reopen shortly.” Owners haven’t responded to emails to further explain their plan, so it’s unknown if this a temporary situation.

Richard Sharp/Eater Chicago Tips

WOODLAWN— Harold’s Chicken Shack No. 2, 6419 S. Cottage Grove, has been demolished. Earlier this month, a fire tore through the building, reported DNAinfo. The African-American-owned fried chicken chain has a cult following, and its most-famous fan could be Chance The Rapper.