Rogers Park Community Beacon Heartland Cafe is Closing

A Rogers Park icon is closing after 42 years in business

After becoming for sale back in September, Rogers Park icon Heartland Cafe is officially closing — although it could reopen in a new spot. Owner Tom Rosenfeld revealed to the restaurant’s newsletter subscribers that its last day in business at its current location at 7000 N. Glenwood Avenue will be New Year’s Eve, Block Club reported. “We might be able to come back once the new owners build a new building, but that won’t be for some time. So we have been reviewing new spaces,” he wrote. Heartland opened in 1976 and has been a community gathering place, restaurant, coffee bar, and live music spot for more than four decades. It’s definitely the end of an era on the far North Side.

Furious Spoon is furiously making changes

Some big changes are afoot at essential local ramen chain Furious Spoon. Ownership will convert all locations to full service, implement expanded menus, and more tweaks, the Tribune first reported. The Lakeview location was the first to convert on Wednesday and Pilsen will be the last, in late January.

A popular Lakeview ice cream shop was sold

Lakeview ice cream favorite Bobtail announced last week it was sold to Ohio’s Johnson’s Real Ice Cream, of whom one of its owners is a partner. Most of its ice cream flavors will remain the same but it will close temporarily on January 1 to change its design.

Big Star starts brunch service in Wrigleyville

Big Star, One Off Hospitality’s ever-popular honky tonk taqueria and whiskey bar, started serving brunch this past weekend — at the Wrigleyville location. The menu includes breakfast tacos, Bloody Marias, mini breakfast tortas, and more.

Elizabeth’s Iliana Regan sets release date for memoir

Iliana Regan’s memoir Burn the Place is now available for preorder. The chef-owner of Elizabeth and Kitsune’s book “chronicles Iliana Regan’s journey from gigging frogs on the family farm to opening her Michelin-starred restaurant, Elizabeth.” An excerpt and preorders are available here. Its publication date is July 16, 2019.

Korean stalwart Joong Boo Market was briefly shut down

Joong Boo Market, the longtime acclaimed Korean restaurant and market in Avondale, was briefly shut down by city inspectors on Thursday. It was reportedly due to its water tank and not the food and it was cleared to reopen the following day.

South Side brewpub is latest to install trendy outdoor domes

And finally, far South Siders won’t have to go far to drink in those trendy outdoor domes this winter. Acclaimed Beverly brewpub Open Outcry Brewing Company opened some on its new rooftop space this past weekend. More info is available here.