Matthias Merges Shutters Yusho Hyde Park After Nearly Three Years In

After a little less than three years of service, Matthias Merges has closed the Hyde Park iteration of Yusho. The smaller South Side location of Merges’ casual Japanese restaurant closed on Saturday as Merges’ Folkart Restaurant Management (Billy Sunday, Old Irving Brewing) gears up to open Lucky Dorr, a craft beer-focused restaurant right in front of the North Side’s Wrigley Field.

Through a statement, Merges’ camp said they’ll focus on his other Hyde Park restaurant, A10, as well as upcoming projects including a second Wrigleyville spot and a long-teased West Loop establishment. A Folkart rep wouldn't say if there are any immediate plans for the Hyde Park space.

The shutter is a bit of a surprise as ramen shops are popping up across the city. The Furious Spoon chain recently opened a location in Pilsen. Meanwhile, Chinatown’s Strings Ramen Shop has finally opened its location near the CTA’s Belmont Red Line Shop at 919 W. Belmont Ave. The opening was supposed to happen in March. Another Strings location, in Lincoln Park, closed a year ago.

This is the second Yusho to shutter in recent weeks, as the Las Vegas location closed in June. That location opened in April 2014. Yusho Hyde Park opened in September 2014, three years after the first Yusho opened in Logan Square. Read Folkart’s full statement on the shutter below.

“After a great run in a neighborhood we love, we are closing Yusho Hyde Park to concentrate our efforts on the Michelin award-winning A10 and our new upcoming projects. We are grateful for the opportunity Yusho provided in the vibrant and historic community of Hyde Park and we will continue to provide great hospitality and cuisine to all of our A10 neighbors.”