Parts & Labor and Three Chicago Restaurant Shutters to Know

December 11

LOGAN SQUARE— A four-year run of griddled burgers, boozy shakes, and trivia nights ended over the weekend in Logan Square as Parts & Labor closed on Sunday night at 2700 N. Milwaukee Avenue. The burger joint was run by the team behind Boiler Room, the pizza spot near the CTA’s Blue Line’s California stop. Parts & Labor opened in 2013. Management didn’t share the reason behind the shutter, which was announced on Facebook.

NORTH PARK— After 11 years, Ugly Hookah Cafe, a Middle Eastern BYO spot at 3415 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, has closed. In a Facebook post, the family that owns the restaurant write they may reopen in a new location.

PILSEN— Nitecap Coffee Bar will close after five years at 1738 W. 18th Street in Pilsen. The coffeeshop will remain open through the end of the year, according to a Facebook post. The owners are also selling the art on the walls.

WICKER PARK— Seven years after opening, Joey’s Shrimp House has closed at 1432 N. Western Avenue. Fried shrimp, jibaritos, and more were the house specialities. Yelp and a few other sources have confirmed the shutter. They’re not answering the phone and there aren’t lights on in the dining room.

October 27

GREEKTOWN— Gyro-Mena, the gyro spinoff from the owners of the Philly’s Best chain, has closed its location at 769 W. Jackson Boulevard. Their first location in Lakeview remains open. Owner Michael Markellos said it made more sense to rent the property out rather than continue to operate a restaurant — he can make as much money renting versus making and serving food. He said he could see the same situation developing in Lakeview in the next 10 years as rents increase.

MAG MILE— Holiday shoppers needing an escape off Michigan Avenue have one less spot for shelter. Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises will close Frankie’s Scaloppine & Fifth Floor Pizzeria on Saturday, November 4 inside the 900 North Michigan Shops, according to an LEYE rep. The space’s lease is up and LEYE will close the restaurant after more than a decade of serving pizza and pasta.

RIVER NORTH— The decadent lifestyle that the owners of Coco Champagne Lounge projected has come to an end on Hubbard Street. The bar, which opened in February at 23 W. Hubbard Street, has closed. They’re not picking up the phone and Yelpers have also reported the shutter.

STREETERVILLE— Business at GreenRiver continues to be brisk, as the acclaimed cocktail lounge and restaurant earlier in the month retained its Michelin star. However, management has closed its companion cocktail lounge, Annex. The bar debuted in February 2015. A rep said they’ve converted it into a private event space up on the 18th floor at 259 E. Erie Street.

October 25

ALBANY PARK— T&B Grill is closing to reconcept after two years at 3658 W. Lawrence Avenue, according to DNAinfo. Apparently the name, which stands for “tacos and burgers” wasn’t well received.

LINCOLN PARK— There’s a vacancy inside the NEWCITY development at Halsted and Clybourn. The Mexican restaurant on the second floor, Adobe Gilas, has closed. A suburban Rosemont location remains, as does restaurants in Orlando and Columbus, Ohio. Adobe Gilas opened when NEWCITY debuted in 2015. The restaurant was the subject of noise complaints from residents who didn’t like the salsa dancing at night.

LINCOLN SQUARE— Flirty Cupcakes has closed 4631 N. Lincoln Avenue, reported DNAinfo. The owners posted signs at the storefront. The brand started as food truck in 2010. They followed with a Little Italy location off Taylor Street in 2012, and then opening the Lincoln Square location in 2014.

NORTH CENTER— After losing chef Timothy Cottini earlier this year, Knife has closed at 4343 N. Lincoln Avenue. The neighborhood steakhouse was a spinoff of Fork and lasted a year. The restaurant’s owner was involved in a social media squabble over the name of the restaurant with Houston celebrity chef John Tesar who has his own steakhouse with the same name in Texas.

RIVER NORTH— Bridge House Tavern is closing after seven years at 321 N. Clark Street. Private events booked after the Sunday, October 29 closing will not be affected, according to owner Mark Hemmer. They’re also booking events through December 22. Apparently, the building’s landlord has terminated Bridge House’s lease.

WRIGLEYVILLE— It’s offseason for the Cubs, and now it’s the end of the line for Myron Mixon’s Smokeshow Barbecue at 3801 N. Clark Street. A rep confirms that the acclaimed pitmaster’s restaurant has shuttered. Apparently the building is being sold. The restaurant lasted a year. The rep said Mixon will focus on his restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia. She released a statement from Mixon: “I thank the city of Chicago for giving us a warm welcome and supporting us for the duration of our stay, as well as our excellent staff who worked hard day in and day out. We promise to bring barbecue to Chicago again down the road!”

NORTHBROOK— Elegance in Meats closed on Saturday, October 21, according to a Facebook post. The suburban deli and bakery had been around for 34 years and was a respect caterer for the North Shore.

October 13

ARCHER HEIGHTS— A nondescript nightclub has closed its doors near Midway Airport. Blue Sky Lounge closed on Sunday at 4807 S. Pulaski Raod, according to Facebook announcement.

LOGAN SQUARE— After 27 years of lauded Cuban food at 3238 W. Fullerton Avenue, El Rinconito Cubano has closed. A Facebook announcement thanked customers: “our journey has come to an end, and we are forever grateful to our loyal customers who kept us up and running for so long.” They were listed on Eater Chicago’s best places to eat Cuban food. Read the Facebook post below.

WICKER PARK— The massive building on the northeast corner of the Milwaukee/North/Damen intersection is about to go through a massive change. Tavern is closing on Sunday, ending an 11-year run. Management put signs up inside the 4 a.m. bar, and DNAinfo spoke with a few employees to confirm the shutter. The building also includes a cavernous nightclub upstairs that’s switched names through the years and will also close. In its current form it’s known as Annex, but previously it was known as Ohm and Red Dog. At one time the space was a haven for Chicago’s house music scene. Thursday night, Tavern’s windows were wide open off North and Damen and patrons cheered loud as the Cubs advanced in the playoffs.

WICKER PARK— Last week, owners of Le Duck Cafe closed the pan-Asian restaurant after a 10-month run at 1359 N. Milwaukee Avenue. The restaurant attempted to blend Thai and Filipino flavors, but struggled to find an identity. The space hasn’t found consistency as fast-casual Indian spot Columbus’ Curry closed in 2016 after about a year in the same space.

NAPERVILLE— A suburban location of a Chicago deli chain has closed. Halsted Street Deli has shuttered its downtown Naperville location at 206 S. Washington Street, according to The Naperville Sun.

October 4

ANDERSONVILLE— Earlier this month, Giordano’s closed its Andersonville location, 5207 N. Clark St. A statement on the stuffed pizza restaurant’s website read that the chain was consolidating its operations. The A’ville restaurant opened in April 2015 and now the closest location is in Lincoln Square. Edgeville Buzz first reported the news.

THE LOOP— Dec. 3 will mark the end of a 15-year run for South Water Kitchen, the restaurant inside the Hotel Monaco at 225 N. Wabash Ave. A news release announced the shutter, and the Tribune noted that the restaurant was known for its Groundhog Day Lunch. It was a free meal for anyone who would eat on the patio during the normally wintry day. A new restaurant — also operated by Kimpton Hotels — will replace SWK, with a planned opening for the spring. If this is deja vu, that’s because in 2015, management announced that the restaurant would close.

RIVER NORTH— Bar Rescue wasn’t enough to save Underground Wonder Bar. The bar, which appeared on Jon Taffer’s TV show in 2014, has closed at 710 N. Clark St. The spot lasted 27 years, hosting live music and entertainment. since 1989. There’s a Facebook post that mentions the closing, and there’s a sign on the door that tells equipment companies how to retrieve any of their property in the bar.

Ashok Selvam

ELMHURST/WHEATON— OMG! Brunch and Boutique has closed a pair of restaurants in the suburbs. The original location at 105 S. York Road closed in September, My Suburban Life reported. The second location, OMG! Cafe at 390 W. Front St., closed in October.

September 26

AROUND TOWN— Freshii has closed 18 of their locations inside Target stores. That includes a location at the Target in South Loop, 1154 S. Clark St., according to Sloopin’. Freshii ownership said in an investment call that they’re disappointed that they didn’t hit financial expectations, but they can recover, according to The Nation’s Restaurant News.

DOUGLAS PARK— Riot Fest attendees needing food near the festival grounds were deprived to try food from Joe’s Poboy Restaurant. Signage outside the restaurant, 1247 S. Western Ave., announced at shutter, and also announced a new restaurant named Aloha Wagon is “coming soon.”

MORGAN PARK— Beverly Woods Restaurant has closed, ending a 63-year-run, according to DNAinfo. The family-owned banquet hall needed renovations, and the owners told the website that they were too old to keep up with the upgrades.

MORGAN PARK— The owners of Snappers Seafood & Chicken didn’t share a closing date, but they told DNAinfo that they’ll soon close. That ends a two-year run at 11500 S. Western Ave.

MOUNT GREENWOOD— Here’s another South Side shutter: TR’s Pub will close on Saturday at 3908 W. 111th St., according to DNAinfo. They’ll be replaced by Firewater Saloon.

PILSEN— Diez y Ocho, the restaurant formerly known as Vio Cafe, has closed at 2000 W. 18th St. Their owner, via Facebook, wrote that they’re looking for new locations. They’re known for their burgers, but also did Mexican and Italian food. They did a segment two years ago on Chicago’s Best.

BARRINGTON— After 36 years, Baloney’s is closing on Saturday in suburban Barrington. The sandwich shop hasn’t made a profit since the owner’s wife died last year, reported The Daily Herald. A new restaurant Showtime Eatery will replace Baloney’s at 114 W. Main St.

September 13

NORTH CENTER— After reconcepting from Michelin Bib Gourmand-rated Via Lima, the casual Nazka Peruvian Wok is done after less than two months at 4024 N. Lincoln Ave. Ownership tells DNAinfo it closed due to “unforeseen and very difficult family circumstances.”

LINCOLN PARK— U Rice, the Halsted Street offshoot of popular Old Town Chinese restaurant/karaoke party Lan’s, announced its closure on July 28, a Facebook post reveals. It opened in the two-floor former Strings 2 space at 1629 N. Halsted St. last Nov. 21, serving Korean and Japanese dishes to complement its Chinese standards, and hosted karaoke on the second floor. Ownership also said via Facebook that the restaurant was under a short term lease, and the space appears to be for lease again now.

PILSEN— 4 1/2-year-old all-day American and Latin restaurant Bistro 18 closed down on Sept. 9 at 1640 W. 18th St. Ownership, in a Facebook statement, said “we plan to come back in a new form soon in the future.”

WRIGLEYVILLE— More changes come near Wrigley Field as Cassava, the South American cafe named for the cassava plant, closed after seven years at 3338 N. Clark St. Ownership says the restaurant is one of the multiple businesses to be forced out by the CTA in order to build the new Brown Line Bypass, but that they’re “expanding our catering, wholesale, local delivery and nation-wide shipping business,” and that they'll “look into opening a small restaurant downtown, or even a food truck” in the future.

DOUGLAS PARK— Frank and the Cubans, a food cart with picnic tables that focused on Cuban food and hot dogs in a parking lot at 2444 W. 16th St., closed last month. The Tribune first noted the news via Facebook and LTH Forum.

WICKER PARK— The Wicker Park nexus will lose its Jimmy John’s within nine months, as its franchisee tells DNAinfo that its lease ends in July and that its rent is too high and the space at 1557 N. Milwaukee Ave. is too large.

September 4

LINCOLN PARK— Elly’s Pancake House closed on Aug. 27 at the corner of North and Clark. While the chain has a Jefferson Park location and four more in the suburbs, that spot at 101 W. North Ave. has housed a late-night diner for decades. It was previously The Original Mitchell’s. New multi-million dollar condo developments will replace the restaurant on the block.

LINCOLN PARK— Duke’s Bar & Grill, a tiny bar/restaurant at 2616 N. Clark St., has closed. The spot was known for a variety of burgers and beers. It lasted 12 years.

NORTH CENTER— Zaytune, a Mediterranean spot that lasted two years at 4322 N. Western Ave., has closed. DNAinfo reported that the restaurant’s original location, 3129 S. Morgan St. in Bridgeview, will continue operations.

BUCKTOWN— Buzz: Killer Espresso closed last month as the Bucktown coffee shop prepares to move to a new location in Logan Square. The owners at 1644 N. Damen Ave. posted a sign at their vacated building asking customers to follow them northwest to 2779 N. Milwaukee Ave. They had been at their original location for seven years. Another sign on its exterior says a new two-floor building is coming soon.

LAKEVIEW— Mi Tierra, a Wrigleyville Mexican restaurant at 1039 W. Belmont Ave., has been quiet for months, with signs posted that ownership was on vacation. Meanwhile, the Little Village location keeps rolling.

HYDE PARK—Popular frozen yogurt and sweets spot ZBerry will close after service today at 1368 ¹⁄₂ E. 53rd St., ownership posted on Facebook. The decision is in response to a rent hike, according to previous reports. Owner Zenzile “Zenzi” Powell will move it to a “modified operation” in Ellis Park at 35th Street and Cottage Grove, and hopes to find a more permanent space to reopen the shop in a new location soon.

August 24

RIVER NORTH— In a most-unusual move, Sumi Robata Bar used Facebook Live to announce they are closing on Monday at 702 N. Wells St. Beard Award-nominated chef Gene Kato (he cooked at the now-shuttered Japanois) said he’s proud of what he’s accomplished. He didn’t go into details on the video to why the restaurant will close. Kato and his then-wife, Victoria Rojas, opened the restaurant in 2013. This year, Sumi won a local Banchet Award for best neighborhood restaurant. The restaurant also had a basement whisky bar called Charcoal Bar. Check out the footage below.

LINCOLN PARK— Marcello’s Father & Son Pizza employees are telling customers thier 645 W. North Ave. location that the restaurant will close in December. While Father & Son still has locations in Logan Square and suburban Northbrook, this North Avenue location was rumored to be vulnerable due to developers who want to raze the plaza and build a 14-story development. There’s still plenty of a time to grab some chicken wings and pizza, but be warned.

LINCOLN PARK— The Twisted Baker, in the middle of a construction-packed block at 2475 N. Lincoln Ave., has closed. The baker, which relocated from Old Town after closing in October 2014, posted a noted to customers on its door. Read it below.

Ashok Selvam

LINCOLN PARK— Earlier this summer, The Original Pancake House closed their location next to Park West at 2020 N. Lincoln Park West. The breakfast chain, which has a location in Gold Coast, was slowly moving operations to a new spot at 616 W. Diversey Parkway. The new location is already open.

THE LOOP— Earlier this summer, Latinicity closed its pedway taco shop on the first floor of Block 37, 108 N. State St. Taqueria 2.0 is no more, but the food hall inside the same building continues.

OAK PARK— Taste of Brasil, ended nearly an eight-year stint in the suburbs last week at 906 S. Oak Park Ave. in Oak Park. The Brazilian spot closed do to a rent dispute, according to a Facebook post.

August 14

ANDERSONVILLE— After about a year, Debbie Sharpe is closing her The Goddess and Grocer cafe at 5318 N. Clark St. The restaurant’s last day will be Aug. 27, according to Sharpe. She’ll concentrate her efforts on the Goddess location at 1649 N. Damen Ave. in Bucktown, as well as continue her catering business, The Goddess Rocks. Sharpe said she loves the neighborhood, but she’s been also offered other projects and it was time to walk away.

BELMONT GARDENS— Earlier this month, Chicago officials led a drug and prostitution bust to shut down El Mitote (a supermarket with a taqueria) and El Ateño at Belmont and Kilbourn, on the 4400 block of Belmont. Police made 13 arrests and found 52 kilos of cocaine, 45 kilos of heroin, and other drugs, according to Univision Chicago.

HYDE PARK— Chicagoans will have the summer to patronize Zberry Frozen Yogurt and Treats, 1368 E. 53rd St. The yogurt shop has been around for seven years, and DNAinfo reported that it will close around Sept. 22. The owner blamed increased rents. The neighborhood is changing is developer build new construction and more chains enter the market.

MOUNT GREENWOOD— After five years, Marie’s Cafe and Catering has closed. The restaurant, 3660 W. 111th St., closed on Sunday, according to DNAinfo. A sales slump, coupled with increased business costs — including rent — doomed the business.

August 9

ROSCOE VILLAGE— A few months after going back to counter service, New England Seafood Co., home to some of the city’s best lobster rolls, has closed. Management made the announcement via Facebook and Sunday was their last day. The restaurant opened in 2011 and quickly grabbed the spotlight with a brand of quick-serve fresh seafood that is unusual in the Midwest. They’ll still have a catering operation.

LINCOLN PARK— There's an attractive piece of real estate available at the corner of Clark and Fullerton. Standard Market and Grill has closed. Its suburban locations remained unaffected. DNAinfo first reported the shutter, but since Tuesday, Standard has removed its signs from the building at 444 W. Fullerton Pkwy. The spot was big and comfy for workers during the day with fresh salads, sandwiches, and beer.

Ashok Selvam

LAKEVIEW— This is not a not a new shutter, but say “adios” and “guten tag” to Torta Haus. The small fast-casual restaurant at 926 W. Diversey Pkwy. closed last month, according to DNAinfo. They made Mexican tortas with a German spin.

WICKER PARK— Felipe Caro still isn’t officially calling it curtains, but there hasn’t been much movement at Mutz, his new hot dog stand at the former Picante space, 2016 W. Division St. While Picante moved next door to a bigger space, Mutz lasted about a week. Caro said he had staffing issues and also said he didn’t feel any pressure to reopen. He has hands full with his other new restaurant, Flip.